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THE 


CHINA  MISSION. 

KM  BRACING  A 

HISTORY  OF  THE  VARIOUS  MISSIONS  OF  ALL 
DENOMINATIONS  AMONG  THE  CHINESE. 

WITH 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 

or 

DECEASED  MISSIONARIES. 

B Y 

WILLIAM  DEAN,  D.  D. 

TWENTY  YEARS  A MISSIONARY  TO  CHINA. 


NEW  YORK: 

SHELDON  & CO.,  115  NASSAU  STREET. 
BOSTON:  GOULD  & LINCOLN. 
LONDON  : TRUBNER  & CO. 


1859. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1859,  hy 
SHELDON  & COMPANY, 

In  the  Clerk’s  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


STEKEOTYPED  BY 

THOMAS  B.  SMITH  & SON, 
82  & 84  Beekman-st.,  N.  Y. 
E.  CEAIGIIEAD, 

Printer,  Slereoiyper,  ami  Electrotyper, 

ffiarton  HuiTBtnrj, 

81,  83,  and  85  Centre  Street, 


PREFACE. 


In  preparing  the  following  pages,  the  author  has 
been  aided  by  personal  suggestions  from  friends, 
private  letters  from  numerous  individuals,  and 
valuable  material  from  various  published  works — 
among  which  the  Chinese  Repository,  the  Middle 
Kingdom,  and  the  Fuh  Chau  Cemetery,  deserve 
special  mention.  The  biographical  sketches  have 
in  part  been  gathered  from  published  memoirs,  and 
in  part  from  personal  memories ; the  author  having 
enjoyed  a happy  acquaintance  with  many  of  the 
parties  named.  If  surviving  friends  will  give  him 
the  means  of  correcting  any  mistakes  which  may 
be  discovered  in  these  brief  memorials,  they  will 
be  gratefully  acknowledged. 

Being  disabled  for  the  work  in  China,  to  which 
he  had  given  the  strength  of  his  life,  it  has  afforded 


IV 


PEEFACE. 


the  writer  peculiar  pleasure,  while  preparing  this 
work,  to  reoccupy,  in  thought,  the  dwelling  places, 
and  mingle  again  with  the  devoted  persons  with 
which  are  associated  the  happiest  memories  of  his 
life. 

To  the  Master  who  sustained  and  blessed  him 
during  the  years  of  service  abroad,  and  who  has 
given  him  strength  to  prepare  this  offering  at  home, 
both  the  offering  and  its  author  are  dedicated,  with 
the  prayer  that  he  may  employ  both  it  and  him 
for  the  glory  of  his  name  and  the  salvation  of  the 
Chinese. 

WILLIAM  DEAN. 


Wyoming,  N.  Y.,  June,  1859. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PA9E 

Geography. — Food. — Clothing. — Dwellings. — Customs 7 

CHAPTER  II. 

Language. — Literature. — Printing. — Schools 14 

CHAPTER  III. 

Laws. — Revenue. — Punishments. — Police 28 

CHAPTER  IV. 


History. — Mythological.— Ancient. — Modern 33 

CHAPTER  Y. 

Revolution  of  Tai-Peng-Wang 48 


CHAPTER  YI. 

Religion. — Confucianism. — Tauism. — Budhism 60 

CHAPTER  VII. 


Christianity. — Nestorians. — Catholics. — Protestants 71 

List  of  Missionaries  of  various  Societies 161 

List  of  Missionaries’  Wives  Deceased 165 

Biographical  Sketches,  in  Alphabetical  Order 176 


VI 


CONTENTS 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 

PAQB 

Abeel. — Ashmore. — Bail. — Benham. — Boone. — Bridgman. — Clop- 
ton. — Colder. — Collins. — Coulter. — Dean. — Devan. — Doty.— 
Dyer. — Evans.  — Farmer. — Fairbrother. — Fast. — French.  — 
Goddard. — Gutzlaff. — Hamberg. — Hobson. — Ince. — James.  — 
Jarrom.  — Jenkins.  — Jenks.  — Johnson. — Lowrie. — Lloyd. — 
Marshman.  — McCaw.  — Milne.  — Milton. — Medhurst. — Mor- 
rison.— Munson.  — Pohlman.  — Keed.  — Richards. — Shuck. — 
Spaulding.  — Speer.  — Stronach.  — Vbooman.  — Whilden. — 
■Wolfe. — Wyley 176 — 396 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Where  do  the  Chinese  live?  They  live  on  the  other 
side  of  the  globe.  Their  empire,  including  the  eighteen 
provinces,  extends  from  20°  to  40°  north  latitude,  and 
from  100°  to  122°  east  longitude,  furnishing  all  the  vari- 
eties of  climate  to  be  found  in  the  same  latitude  in  this 
country,  and  their  dominions  embrace  four  hundred  mil- 
lions of  souls,  or  more  than  one  third  of  the  human 
race.  Their  country  presents  some  of  the  longest  rivers, 
highest  mountains,  and  most  fertile  plains  in  the  world  ; 
and  furnishes  some  of  the  rarest  birds,  richest  fabrics, 
and  queerest  people,  to  be  found  on  the  globe. 

If  you  ask  what  they  eat — we  answer,  they  do  not 
eat  beef  nor  bread,  mutton  nor  milk,  butter  nor  cheese ; 
but  they  do  eat  fowls  and  fishes,  pigs  and  puppies,  rats 
and  rice,  maize  and  millet,  wheat  and  barley,  pumpkins 
and  potatoes,  turnips  and  tomatoes,  ground-nuts  and  gar- 
lics, pears  and  peaches,  plantains  and  pumeloes,  grapes 
and  guavas,  pineapples  and  pomegranates,  olives  and 
oranges,  sharks’  fins  and  birds’  nests.  But  why  so  much 
curiosity  to  learn  what  they  eat,  while  so  little  concern 
for  the  fact  that  they  are  hastening  by  millions  to  a 


8 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


world  of  everlasting  starvation,  while  we  hold  in  our 
hands  the  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven,  of 
which  if  a man  eat  he  shall  live  for  ever — and  we  refuse 
to  give  it  to  them,  at  the  peril  of  our  salvation  and 
theirs. 

If  you  ask  what  the  Chinese  wear — we  answer,  that 
a Chinaman  wears  a long  tail  and  broad  sleeves,  a China- 
woman wears  an  embroidered  shirt  and  little  shoes,  and 
their  garments,  of  antique  style  and  uniform  pattern, 
are  more  philosophical  and  modest  and  comfortable  than 
ours,  and  are  made  of  silk  and  satin,  and  cotton  and 
hemp,  the  grass  of  the  fields,  the  leaves  of  the  trees,  the 
skins  of  beasts,  and  the  feathers  of  birds.  But  what 
great  concern  to  us  what  the  Chinese  wear,  since  their 
garments  are  warm  in  winter  and  cool  in  summer,  and 
cover  their  persons  in  an  economical  and  becoming  man- 
ner, while  they  are  poor  and  destitute  and  blind  and 
naked,  and  we  have  been  commissioned  to  invite  them 
to  him  who  can  clothe  them  with  the  spotless  robe  of  a 
Redeemer’s  righteousness,  that  the  shame  of  their  naked- 
ness may  not  appear? 

What  are  their  dwellings  ? The  Chinese  houses  are 
low,  and  dark  and  filthy  ; usually  of  one  story  and  often 
but  one  window.  They  are  built  of  stone,  or  brick,  or 
wood,  or  mud,  and  sometimes  the  Chinese  sleep  in  holes 
of  the  earth,  in  caves  and  under  rocks,  in  floating  boats 
or  the  open  streets.  Hundreds  of  thousands  have  their 
only  home  in  their  little  floating  dwelling,  where  they 
were  born,  and  many  live  on  the  water,  and  seldom,  if 
ever,  go  ashore.  But  what  great  concern  to  us  whether 
the  Chinese  live  on  the  water  or  on  the  land,  in  towns  or 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


9 


in  the  country,  in  palaces  or  in  poverty,  since  they  are 
exposed  to  the  unsheltered  peltings  of  an  eternal  storm, 
and  you  and  I are  commanded  by  him  who  died  to  re- 
deem us,  to  invite  them  to  share  with  us  the  happiness  of 
a home  in  heaven,  a shelter  under  that  building  of  God, 
that  house  not  made  with  hands,  which  Jesus  has  gone  to 
prepare  for  us  ? The  Master  has  intrusted  us  with  the 
hey,  and  bid  us  in  his  name  go  and  invite  them  to  enter, 
and  if  we  neglect  to  obey  that  bidding  how  shall  either 
they  'or  we  find  admission  there  ? 

Without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  God,  and  faith 
cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God. 
The  hope  that  the  heathen  can  be  saved  in  any  other 
way  than  by  means  of  the  gospel  is  unreasonable  and 
ruinous,  and  the  expectation  that  God  is  to  preach  it  to 
them  by  the  whistling  wind,  the  thunders  of  heaven,  the 
voice  of  angels,  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  in  any  other  way  than 
by  human  lips  and  Christian  labors,  is  delusive. 

What  are  the  customs  of  the  Chinese?  Compared 
with  ours,  they  present  some  contrarieties.  When  you 
meet  them,  they  shake  not  your  hand  but  their  own.  - 
The  salutation  is  not,  Good  morning,  but  Have  you  eaten 
rice  ? Will  you  drink  tea  ? — take  a seat  ? — eat  a smoke  ? 
How  old  are  you?  How  many  children  have  you?  Is 
your  father  living  ? 

With  them  it  is  a mark  of  disrespect  to  uncover  the 
head  in  the  presence  of  superiors,  but  they  stand  erect 
with  cap  on  and  hands  folded.  A child  designates  his 
father— family’s  majesty,  prince  of  the  family,  or  vener-  -» 
able  father.  How  many  children  have  you?  He  an- 
swers, I have  three  children,  and  adds,  perhaps,  I have 

1* 


10 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


two  girls,  or  perhaps  he  answers,  “ my  fate  is  niggard;  I 
have  only  one  little  boy.”  A man  designates  his  wife  as 

- the  foolish  one  of  the  family,  or  the  mean  one  of  the 
inner  apartments.  An  invitation  to  dinner,  written  on  a 
strip  of  paper,  may  read  thus — On  the  — day  a trifling 
entertainment  will  await  the  light  of  your  countenance. 
This  is  sent  some  days  beforehand,  and  another  card  is 
sent  on  the  day,  stating  the  hour  of  dinner.  The  host, 
dressed  in  his  cap  and  robes,  awaits  the  arrival  of  his 
guests.  When  they  meet,  there  is  a mutual  bowing  and 
complimenting ; and  when  all  have  assembled,  the  host 
lays  aside  his  outer  dress  as  a signal  for  his  friends  to 
follow  his  example  when  they  are  seated,  two  and  two, 
at  small  tables  arranged  around  the  sides  of  the  room, 
leaving  a space  for  the  servants  to  pass  between  them  in 
bringing  on  the  several  courses  of  the  repast.  The  guests 
on  such  occasions  never  expect  to  see  the  wife,  or  mother, 
or  sisters,  or  daughters  of  their  host,  but  in  masculine 
barbarity  sit  down  to  their  repast  of  animal  gratification 
and  coarse  conversation  without  the  refining  influence  of 
female  society. 

Their  wine,  distilled  from  rice,  which  has  been  in  use 
by  the  Chinese  for  nearly  four  thousand  years,  is  drank 
warm,  and  at  their  meals.  When  all  are  seated  at  the 
tables,  the  host  rises  and  salutes  his  guests  in  a cup 

- of  wine,  apologizing  for  the  frugal  meal,  when  it  may 
abound  with  dishes,  be  ornamented  with  flowers,  and  be 
supplied  with  a great  variety  of  fruiis.  The  table  furni- 
ture consists  of  porcelain  cups,  and  bowls,  and  plates, 
with  porcelain  spoons  with  short  handles,  and  the  chop- 

' sticks,  known  by  the  name  of  nimble  lads.  With  a pair 


1HE  CHINA  MISSION. 


11 


of  these,  one  on  each  side  of  the  forefinger,  the  guests  - 
pick  up  the  morsels  of  pork,  fish,  or  vegetables,  cut  into 
mouthfuls  by  the  cook  in  the  kitchen,  and  convey  them 
to  the  lips  with  great  dexterity,  while  a bowl  of  rice  is 
taken  in  the  left  hand  and  brought  to  the  mouth  and 
shoveled  in  by  the  chop-sticks  in  the  other. 

The  Chinese  parents  select  the  wives  for  their  sons, 
and  decide  whom  their  daughters  shall  marry.  Their 
badge  of  mourning  is  white,  and  their  funeral  cards  are  - 
written  with  blue  ink.  They  mourn  for  the  dead  by 
proxy,  and  select  a burying-place  for  the  departed  by 
the  aid  of  one  who  makes  that  his  profession. 

We  read  horizontally ; they,  perpendicularly.  We  read" 
from  left  to  right ; they,  from  right  to  left.  W e uncover 
the  head  as  a mark  of  respect ; they  put  on  their  caps. 
We  black-ball  our  boots;  they  white- wash  theirs.  We 
compress  the  waist;  they,  the  feet.  We  give  the  place 
of  honor  on  the  right;  they,  on  the  left.  We  speak  of 
north-west;  they,  of  west-north.  We  say  the  needle  of 
the  compass  points  to  the  north ; they,  to  the  south.  We 
shake  the  nand  of  a friend  in  salutation ; they  shake  their 
own.  We  locate  the  understanding  in  the  brain;  they,  in 
the  belly.  Our  officials  designate  their  office  or  rank  by 
a star  on  the  breast  or  epaulets  on  their  shoulders ; they, 
by  a button  on  the  apex  of  their  caps.  We  page  our 
books  at  the  top ; they,  on  the  margin.  We  print  on  both 
sides  of  the  leaf;  they,  upon  one.  We  place  our  foot- 
notes at  the  bottom  ; they,  at  the  top  of  the  page.  We 
mark  the  title  of  a book  on  the  back  of  the  binding; 
they,  on  the  margin  of  the  leaf.  In  our  libraries,  we  set 
our  volumes  up;  they  lay  theirs  down.  Y(e  keep  our 


12 


THE  CHINA  MISSION, 


wives  in  the  parlor;  they  keep  theirs  in  the  kitchen.  We 
put  onr  daughters  to  school ; they  put  theirs  to  service. 
We  propel  our  canal  boats  by  horses  and  steam ; they 
pull  theirs  by  men.  We  take  our  produce  to  market  by- 
railroad;  they  take  theirs  on  men’s  shoulders.  We  saw 
lumber  and  grind  flour  by  steam  and  water  power;  they 
do  it  all  by  human  muscle.  We  turn  a thousand  spin- 
dles and  fly  a hundred  shuttles  without  a single  hand  to 
propel;  they  employ  a hand  for  each.  We  print  by  a 
power  press  and  metal  type ; they,  on  wooden  blocks 
with  a hand  brush.  We  are  a beardless  republic;  they, 
a hoary  headed  empire.  We  worship  God;  they  offer 
incense  to  the  devil.  We  hope  for  heaven;  they  are 
without  happiness. 

But  while  we  notice  these  contrasts,  the  Chinese  have 
with  us  many  things  in  common.  Of  the  latter  class 
are  all  the  essentials  of  humanity.  They  have  in  com- 
mon with  us  all  the  elements  of  body,  mind,  and  soul, 
which  make  up  the  man.  They  have  two  eyes,  two 
— cars,  two  hands,  and  two  feet.  They  laugh  when  they 
are  pleased,  weep  when  they  are  grieved  ; they  sleep 
when  weary,  eat  when  hungry ; rejoice  over  their  gains, 
mourn  over  their  losses  very  much  as  other  men  do. 
They  discover  ample  proof  of  human  depravity  in  their 
selfishness,  pride,  envy,  hatred,  revenge ; a knowledge  of 
right  and  a consciousness  of  wrong.  They  are  selfish, 
sensual,  and  their  hearts  are  fully  set  in  them  to  do 
evil.  They  love  a lie  and  hate  the  truth.  They  are  con- 
; demned  by  their  own  standards  of  morality,  and  confess 
their  inability  to  save  them ; still  they  hate  the  gospel 
when  they  hear  it,  and  are  madly  attached  to  their  sense 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


13 


less  idols,  and  bitterly  trample  beneath  their  feet  the 
righteous  claims  of  the  Son  of  God.  They  are  not  those 
poor,  simple-minded,  honest- hearted  objects  of  pity  which 
some  suppose — doing  as  well  as  they  know  how,  and  un- 
justly condemned  if  they  are  punished  at  all — but  they 
are  all  guilty  of  damning  sin,  they  themselves  being 
judges,  having  violated  their  own  laws  of  morality  and 
religion;  and  having  no  provision  for  pardon,  they  are 
without  excuse  and  without  hope.  The  Christian’s  creed 
condemns  them,  and  their  own  law  and  their  own  lips/ 
confirm  the  condemnation.  The  Word  of  Truth  declares 
that  all  liars  shall  have  their  part  in  the  lake  which  burn- 
etii with  fire  and  brimstone,  which  is  the  second  death  ; 
and  their  own  law  declares,  Thou  shalt  not  lie,  while  their 
daily  lives  confirm  the  language  of  their  lips  from  child- 
hood upward,  that  they  live  in  falsehood  and  love  it 
well.  No  one  acquainted  with  the  Chinese  character  ever 
pretends  to  trust  the  word  of  an  unchristianized  China- 
man. Those  longest  associated  with  them,  and  most  in- 
timately acquainted  with  their  character  and  habits 


expect  a pagan  Chinaman  to  speak  the  truth  when  there 
is  a chance  for  him  to  tell  a lie.  Yet  this  very  people 
will  tell  you  by  their  own  laws,  and  by  their  own  lips, 
that  it  is  a vile  sin  to  lie  and  deceive.  Be  not  deceived, 
neither  fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulterers,  nor  ef*» 
feminate  (unchaste),  nor  abusers  of  themselves  with 
mankind  (Sodomites),  nor  thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor 
drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor  extortioners,  shall  inherit 
the  kingdom  of  God.  We  are  safe  in  saying  that  the 
pagan  Chinese,  without  exception,  are  guilty  of  some  or 
all  these  sins. 


14 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


CHAPTER  II. 

What  is  their  language?  This  has  neither  conjuga- 
tion nor  declension,  neither  affixes  nor  terminations,  nei- 
ther syllables  nor  alphabet,  but  is  composed  of  symbols 
or  characters,  numbering  forty  thousand.  Many  of  these 
have  in  common  the  same  sound,  undistinguished  by  the 
ear,  but  each  has  a separate  signification  recognized  by 
the  eye.  In  some  cases  the  same  character  has  a variety 
of  significations,  and  without  a change  of  form  may  be 
used  either  as  a noun  or  verb,  adverb  or  adjective. 

The  original  mode  of  recording  facts  was  by  means 
of  the  knotted  cords.  About  twenty-seven  hundred 
years  before  Christ,  Hwangte,  an  ancient  sovereign,  or 
one  of  his  statesmen,  has  the  credit  of  originating  the 
Chinese  written  language.  He  is  said  to  have  derived 
his  first  idea  of  the  invention  by  observing  the  various 
forms  in  nature,  and  endeavoring  to  imitate  them.  In 
this  way  some  six  hundred  symbols  were  formed,  in 
which  a resemblance  may  be  traced  between  the  appear- 
ance of  the  character  and  the  thing  signified.  The  sec- 
ond class  seems  to  have  been  formed  by  a combination 
of  characters,  whose  significancy  had  been  settled  and  so 
'combined  as  to  convey  an  idea  by  the  union — as  for  ex- 
ample, the  sun  and  moon  united  was  made  to  signify 
brightness ; the  sun  above  the  horizon  used  for  morn- 
ing ; the  mind,  with  lost  placed  over  it,  signifies  to  for- 
get; man  and  word  side  by  side,  signify  sincere;  three 
ears  and  a mouth  united,  signify  to  slander ; three  ears 
and  a heart  united,  signify  timid ; a woman  placed  under 


the  china  mission. 


15 


a cover,  expresses  tranquillity.  The  reason  for  many  of 
the  combinations  is  to  us  less  apparent,  though  it  is  pre- 
sumed that  in  the  author’s  mind  they  were  not  arbitrary. 
The  whole  forty  thousand  characters  and  more  are  ar- 
ranged in  two  hundred  and  fourteen  classes,  each  class 
marshaled  under  one  root  or  radical,  which  forms  a 
component  part  of  each  character  in  its  class.  This  fa- 
cilitates the  labor  of  finding  any  given  character  in  the 
dictionary,  as  we  look  for  its  signification. 

The  symbols  are  also  arranged  in  family  groups,  which, 
lessen  the  tax  upon  the  memory  of  the  student ; still  he 
has  to  learn  the  sound  and  signification  of  these  forty 
thousand  emblems  of  thought,  as  much  as  a man  has  to 
learn  the  names  and  characters  of  forty  thousand  men 
to  whom  he  was  before  a stranger.  And  as  an  old  friend 
is  sometimes  passed  unrecognized,  when  seen  in  a new 
position,  so  one  of  these  old  characters  you  have  known 
for  years,  when  unexpectedly  met  in  some  new  place ; 
his  face  may  seem  familiar,  but  you  fail  to  call  to  mem- 
ory his  name  or  his  occupation,  and  former  history. 

This  is  an  unwieldy  instrument  for  the  transmission 
of  thought,  and  it  requires  a long  apprenticeship  to  learn 
how  to  use  it,  but  on  the  other  side  of  the  equation  it 
offers  a cancelling  consideration,  in  the  fact  that  it  is  in- 
telligible to  so  large  a portion  of  the  human  race.  The 
Bible  translated,  or  Christian  books  printed,  in  this 
language,  may  be  read  by  the  millions  of  China,  the 
people  of  Cochin-China,  as  well  as  by  the  Coreans,  Lew- 
chuans,  Japanese,  and  multitudes  in  the  surrounding 
countries  of  Siam,  Borneo,  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  not  to 
speak  of  those  who  have  emigrated  to  Burmah,  India 


16 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


and  California.  No  one  language  was  ever  understood 

— by  so  many  men;  no  language  is  so  purely  its  own,  and 
so  unlike  every  other ; no  living  language  can  claim 
such  high  antiquity  and  hoary-headed  veneration.  It  is 
the  oldest  language  now  spoken,  and,  excepting  the  He- 
brew, it  is  perhaps  the  most  ancient  written  language 
ever  used  by  man.  The  Syriac,  Ethiopic,  Coptic  and 
Sanscrit,  are  found  only  in  books,  while  the  classic  lan- 
guages of  Greece  and  Rome,  as  spoken  by  Demosthe- 
nes and  Cicero,  differed  widely  from  the  language  spoken 
in  those  countries  now. 

The  Chinese  have  various  forms  of  the  written  char- 
acter, analogous  to  our  Roman  letter,  Italic,  copy-plate 
and  short-hand,  and  books  are  printed  in  these  several 
varieties  of  character. 

In  early  times  the  Chinese  language  was  written  with 
a style  on  leaves  and  reeds  and  pieces  of  bamboo,  but 
for  more  than  two  hundred  years  before  Christ  they 
wrote  with  hair  pencils  on  cloth  and  silk.  Paper  was 
invented  about  the  time  of  Christ,  and  the  Chinese  ink, 
commonly  called  India  ink,  came  into  use  about  six  hun- 
dred years  after,  and  a thousand  years  had  not  passed 
after  the  coming  of  our  Saviour  before  the  Chinese  in- 
vented the  art  of  printing  on  blocks.  This  invention 
is  credited  to  Fungtau,  who  first  took  impressions  from 

- engraved  stones.  The  block  printing,  since  then  in 
common  use,  will  now  compete  in  no  mean  manner,  in 
point  of  elegance,  economy  and  dispatch,  with  our  mode 
by  a European  press  and  metallic  type.  The  process  of 
block  printing,  is  first  to  prepare  the  blocks,  or  boards, 
which  are  of  the  peach  or  plum  tree  or  camphor  wood, 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


IT 


about  half  or  three  fourths  of  an  inch  in  thickness,  made 
smooth  on  both  sides,  then  soaked  in  rice-water  to  soften 
the  wood  and  prevent  it  from  chipping  out  by  the  en- 
graver’s tool.  These  blocks  are  of  the  size  of  the  page 
of  the  book  to  be  printed,  and  allow  of  a page  to  be  cut 
on  eacb  side.  The  author  prepares  his  manuscript  and 
hands  it  over  to  a copyist,  who  writes  it  out  just  as  it  is 
to  be  printed ; the  leaf  is  then  turned  over  and  pasted 
upon  the  block,  face  downward,  to  invert  the  whole  page. 
The  paper,  when  dried,  is  rubbed  off  with  the  wetted  fin- 
ger, leaving  every  character  and  stroke  plainly  delinea- 
ted upon  the  block.  The  engraver,  or  cutter,  who  may 
be  either  a man  or  a woman,  with  the  chisel  or  carving 
tool,  cuts  away  all  the  blank  spaces  in  and  around  the 
character,  leaving  the  black  lines  prominent  to  form  a 
sort  of  stereotype  plate  for  printing.  The  blocks  being 
thus  prepared,  the  printer  seats  himself  at  a table  about 
four  feet  square,  with  the  block  before  him,  a pot  of  ink 
on  one  side  and  a pile  of  paper  on  the  other,  cut  in  pieces 
the  size  of  the  block,  then  with  a brush  made  of  the 
fibrous  bark  of  the  palm  tree,  he  dips  into  the  ink  pot 
and  brushes  once  or  twice  across  the  block,  and  lays  on 
a piece  of  paper  from  the  pile  prepared,  and  with  a soft, 
dry  brush,  made  of  the  same  material  as  the  former,  he 
brushes  over  the  back  of  the  paper,  and  the  impression 
is  taken.  But  one  side  of  the  paper  is  printed.  The 
ink  is  prepared  of  lampblack  and  vegetable  oil,  of  less 
consistency  and  at  less  expense  than  printer’s  ink  in  this 
country. 

The  entire  cost  of  cutting  the  blocks  and  preparing 
them  for  the  printer’s  use,  amounts  to  one  penny  for 


18 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


fifteen  characters,  or  fifteen  hundred  characters  for  one 
dollar.  The  cost  of  printing,  including  ink,  paper  and 
binding,  is  one  dollar  for  twelve  thousand  pages  of  the 
- New  Testament  size;  which  gives  to  the  Chinese  the  New 
Testament  entire  at  a cost  of  from  ten  to  twenty-five 
cents  a copy,  according  to  the  style  of  paper  and  bind- 
ing. This  gives  to  the  China  mission  great  advantages 
over  those  missions  in  countries  where  the  art  of  print- 
ing is  unknown.  In  Africa,  India,  or  Burmah,  before 
the  Bible  can  be  printed,  there  needs  first  an  outlay  of, 
say  five  thousand  dollars  for  printing  presses,  type  and 
printing  office,  before  they  can  begin  to  work.  There  is 
the  interest  of  this  outlay  and  the  annual  salary  of  the 
printer  from  abroad,  amounting  to  a thousand  dollars  a 
year  in  addition — then  the  insurance,  repairs,  and  the 
wear  and  waste  of  materials,  and  the  want  of  articles 
abroad,  which  you  must  wait  for  till  they  can  be  sent 
from  home. 

All  this  expense  and  inconvenience  is  avoided  in  Chi- 
na, where  the  missionary  has  only  to  prepare  his  transla- 
tion, or  tract,  and  hand  over  the  manuscript  to  a Chinese 
printer,  who  is  responsible  for  cutting  the  blocks,  printing 
and  binding  the  book,  and  hands  it  back  all  ready  for 
distribution.  In  correcting  proof,  the  word  or  line  is  cut 
out,  and  the  space  filled  up  with  a blank  block,  on  which 
the  corrected  copy  is  cut. 

A set  of  blocks  will  give  about  twenty  thousand  fair 
impressions ; that  is,  one  set  of  blocks  will  print  an  edi- 
tion of  twenty  thousand  copies,  and  sometimes  many 
more  than  that  are  printed,  but  the  later  impressions 
would  be  somewhat  imperfect,  as  the  blocks  become 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


19 


worn.  One  man  may  take  two  thousand  impressions  in 
a day.  There  are  European  or  American  printing  of- 
fices in  Canton,  Hong  Kong,  Ningpo,  and  Shanghae, 
employed  by  missionaries  of  different  societies,  but  it 
remains  a question  whether,  for  all  practical  purposes, 
except  where  Chinese  and  English  are  printed  in  the 
same  books,  as  in  a dictionary,  grammar,  or  something 
of  that  kind,  the  Chinese  mode  of  block  printing  may 
not  be  more  economical  and  more  acceptable  to  the  na- 
tive reader. 

We  read  that  during  the  reign  of  Kang-he,  A.D.- 
1662,  books  were  printed  from  movable  type,  cast  in 
copper,  like  so  many  seals,  and  then  divided  for  use. 
By  these  were  printed  an  encyclopedia  of  more  than  five 
hundred  volumes,  and  divided  into  six  thousand  chap- 
ters. During  the  sixty  years’  reign  of  this  emperor,  lit- 
erature flourished,  and  the  national  dictionary  in  twenty- 
one  volumes,  bearing  his  name,  was  compiled. 

The  Chinese  have  long  been  in  the  practice  of  cerog-  — 
rapby,  or  of  printing  on  wax.  The  characters  are  cut  on 
a block  of  wax,  and  from  this  impressions  are  taken, 
used  chiefly  for  printing  court  circulars  and  slips  of  news 
requiring  dispatch. 

A font  of  metallic  Chinese  type  was  prepared  for 
printing  Dr.  Morrison’s  Chinese  and  English  Dictionary. 
This  was  made  by  cutting  each  character  in  the  Chinese 
language  on  a block  of  tin  or  type  metal.  A font  was 
cast  at  Serampore  by  Dr.  Marshman,  and  used  for  print-  ^ 
ing  his  version  of  the  Bible.  Mr.  Dyer,  at  Malacca,  com- 
menced a font  in  1833,  and  afterward  a font  of  smaller 
size,  both  of  which  were  greatly  extended  by  Mr.  Cole 


20 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


at  Hong  Kong.  A font  was  made  at  Paris  by  casting  a 
mass  of  type  metal  by  means  of  the  wood  block  already 
engraved  with  the  characters,  and  then  sawing  it  into 
separate  types.  This  was  a cheap  process,  but  the  types 
were  wanting  in  uniformity  and  finish.  Another  plan 
was  adopted  by  cutting  a punch  for  a radical  or  primi- 
tive, which  entered  into  a great  number  of  characters, 
thus  making  the  characters  divisible,  somewhat  on  the 
division  of  our  words  into  syllables.  For  example,  we 
cast  the  prefix  ad,  and  it  may  be  combined  as  adjourn , 
adjudge , adjure , etc.  This  plan  combines  cheapness  and 
variety,  but  in  the  combinations  some. characters  on  a 
page  appear  disproportionably  large  and  offensive  to  the 
eye  of  the  Chinese  readers,  who  are  in  the  habit  of 
making  each  character  on  a page  occupy  the  same  space 
whether  it  contains  two  or  twenty  strokes.  Perhaps  the 
most  beautiful  specimens  of  Chinese  metallic  type  are 
found  in  a font  prepared  at  Berlin  by  A.  Beyerhaus. 

But  what  concern  to  us  though  the  Chinese  may  find 
among  the  forty  thousand  characters  a term  for  every 
shade  of  thought  in  the  affairs  of  life  and  the  passions  of 
men  ? Still  we  search  in  vain  throughout  their  copious 
language  to  convey  the  idea  of  the  Christian’s  G-od,  the 
Christian’s  heaven,  or  the  Christian’s  hope,  or  peace,  or 
penitence,  or  faith.  The  language  has  in  it  no  Jesus 
Christ,  no  justification  for  the  sinner,  no  word  of  pardon 
for  the  penitent.  These  things  are  all  unknown  to  the 
people,  and  of  course  they  have  no  language  to  express 
them.  The  Christian  teacher  has  to  take  such  words  as 
he  finds  among  them  in  common  use  and  consecrate 
them  from  a secular  to  a sacred  use.  For  deity  he  takes 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


21 


the  term  applied  to  every  object  of  worship  and  calls  it 
God — so  for  faith,  and  repentance,  and  love,  and  humil- 
ity, he  must  select  terms  that  will  bear  such  an  explana- 
tion as  will  convey  the  Christian  idea,  but  which  idea 
the  pagan  uninstructed  would  never  attach  to  his  own 
language.  But  in  relation  to  the  depraved  passions  and 
gross  thoughts  of  the  sinful  heart,  their  language  abounds 
with  truthful  translations  of  all  the  Scripture  formula.  If 
you  wish  to  say  to  the  people  that  they  are  filled  with 
all  unrighteousness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covetous- 
ness, maliciousness,  full  of  envy,  murder,  debate,  deceit, 
malignity,  whisperers,  backbiters,  despiteful,  proud,  boast- 
ers, inventors  of  evil  things,  etc.,  you  would  find  expres-- 
sions  in  the  language,  and  illustrations  in  their  lives  to 
convey  the  precise  idea. 

As  to  their  literature,  they  have  books  on  poetry  and  — 
painting,  history  and  horticulture,  geography  aud  gov- 
ernment, economy  and  ethics,  romance  and  religion. 
With  them,  of  making  many  books  there  is  no  end ; as 
for  instance,  a library  may  be  so  extensive  that  its  cata- — 
logue  shall  consist  of  more  than  a hundred  volumes, 
and  each  volume  contain  more  than  a hundred  pages. 
But  what  concern  to  us  though  China  should  make  so 
many  books  that  the  world  itself  could  not  contain 
them,  since  not  one  sentence  is  there  found  about  man’s 
salvation  and  the  only  Redeemer  of  the  world?  They 
recognize  the  fact  that  man  is  diseased,  but  present  no 
means  of  cure ; they  present  the  race  as  impure,  but  of- 
fer no  hope  for  pardon  ; they  speak  of  sin,  but  say  noth- 
ing of  a Saviour.  Their  sages  repress  the  inquiry  of 
their  disciples  about  a coming  life  and  the  supreme 


22 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Euler,  by  saying,  why  inquire  about  the  future  while 
you  have  so  much  to  learn  about  the  present ; and  why 
ask  about  the  gods  while  you  know  so  little  of  men? 
Among  all  their  volumes,  though  multiplied  by  thou- 
sands and  millions,  they  have  not  the  book — the  Bible. 

“ Let  all  the  heathen  writers  join 
To  form  a perfect  book ; 

Great  God,  if  once  compared  with  thine, 

How  mean  their  writings  look  I 
0,  let  the  heathen  nations  read 
This  book  in  mercy  given, 

And  look  to  him  who  once  did  bleed 
To  fit  their  souls  for  heaven.” 

What  of  Chinese  education  ? The  Chinese  have  ever 
promoted  education  and  honored  educated  men.  The 
scholar  has  ever  ranked  high  compared  with  the  me- 
chanic and  merchant,  and  since  the  Tang  dynasty,  A.D. 
600,  the  civil  officers  of  government  have  been  select- 
ed from  literary  graduates.  The  Chinese  classics  say, 
that  among  the  ancients,  villages  had  their  schools,  dis- 
tricts their  academies,  departments  their  colleges,  and 
principalities  their  universities.  These  are  for  the  bene- 
fit of  the  boys,  for  while  Chinese  writers  speak  of  the 
importance  of  female  education,  we  never  see  their  girls 
in  school,  and  have  seldom  seen  a Chinese  woman  who 
could  read  her  own  language.  The  chief  stimulus  for 
boys  to  study — the  prospect  of  office  and  wealth — is 
taken  away  from  the  girls.  Again,  parents  would  be 
slow  to  put  their  daughters  under  the  instruction  of  a 
man,  and  it  is  rare  if  ever  they  find  a woman  who  has 
the  learning  and  the  leisure  to  teach.  The  very  few  Chi- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


23 


nese  women  we  "have  met  who  could  read,  have  learned 
from  a brother  or  a father  at  home.  A few  are  instruct- 
ed in  music  and  embroidery,  hut  the  great  mass  of  wo- 
men in  China  are  employed  in  the  servile  occupations  of 
home  or  the  toils  of  the  fields. 

The  boys  commence  their  studies  at  six  or  seven  years 
. of  age.  In  China  there  is  no  royal  road  to  learning,  but 
every  boy,  whatever  his  rank,  takes  the  same  class-book 
and  submits  to  the  same  training.  The  school  room  is  a 
low  shed,  or  a back  room  in  some  temple,  or  some  attic 
in  some  shop  where  each  boy  is  supplied  with  a table  and 
a stool,  and  the  teacher  has  a more  elevated  seat  and  a 
larger  table.  In  the  corner  of  the  room  is  a tablet  or 
picture  of  Confucius,  before  which  each  pupil  prostrates 
himself  on  entering  the  room,  and  then  makes  his  obei- 
sance to  his  teacher.  He  then  brings  his  book  to  the 
teacher,  who  repeats  over  a sentence  or  more  to  the  pupil, 
and  he  goes  to  his  place  repeating  the  same  at  the  top  of 
his  voice  till  he  can  repeat  it  from  memory,  when  he  re- 
turns to  his  teacher  and  laying  his  book  on  the  teacher’s 
table,  turns  his  back  upon  both  book  and  teacher  and  re- 
peats his  lesson.  This  is  called  backing  his  lesson.  In 
this  way  he  goes  through  the  volume  till  he  can  back  the 
whole  book;  then  another,  then  another,  till  he  can  back 
a list  of  the  classics.  The  boys  in  the  school,  to  the  num- 
ber of  ten  to  twenty,  each  go  through  the  same  process, 
coming  up  in  turn  to  back  their  lesson,  and  he  that  has 
a defective  recitation  receives  a blow  on  the  head  from 
the  master’s  ferule  of  bamboo,  and  returns  to  his  seat  to 
perfect  his  lesson.  The  school  teachers  are  usually  unsuc- 
cessful candidates  for  preferment  and  office,  who,  not 


24 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


having  habits  for  business  or  a disposition  to  labor,  turn 
pedagogues.  They  receive  from  each  of  the  pupils  a given 
sum  proportioned  to  the  means  of  the  parents,  and  varying 
from  three  to  ten  or  twelve  dollars  a year  from  each  pupil, 
and  perhaps  in  addition  an  occasional  gift  of  fruits  or  food. 

The  schools  are  opened  at  early  dawn,  and  the  boys 
study  till  nine  or  ten  o’clock,  when  they  go  to  breakfast, 
and  after  an  hour  or  so  return  and  study  till  four  or  five 
o’clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  then  retire  for  the  day.  In 
winter  they  sometimes  have  a lesson  in  the  evening. 

The  first  book  is  called  the  Trimetrical  Classic,  which 
all  Chinese  boys  begin  with,  and  which  some  of  their 
commentators  have  called  a passport  into  the  regions  of 
classical  and  historical  literature.  We  should  as  soon 
think  of  putting  a copy  of  Young’s  Night  Thoughts  into 
the  hands  of  a beginner  with  the  expectation  of  seeing 
him  master  it.  These  young  Celestials  are  not  expected, 
however,  to  understand  what  they  read,  but  simply  to 
memorise,  and  occasionally  write  out  some  more  simple 
character,  and  perhaps  after  two  or  three  years’  reading 
and  memorising,  they  begin  to  study  the  sentiments  of 
the  author.  The  sons  of  tradesmen  and  mechanics  sel- 
dom study  long  enough  to  master  the  classics,  but  gain  a 
smattering  of  books,  and  learn  to  read  and  write  the 
language  sufficiently  to  keep  accounts,  and  gain  a little 
knowledge  of  mathematics,  when  their  education  is  ended. 
Such  boys,  and  they  constitute  no  small  portion  of  school- 
boys in  China,  as  they  grow  up,  retain  the  sound  of  many 
characters,  but  are  unable  to  explain  the  meaning  of  a 
page  in  any  common  book.  Three  or  four  years  of 
schooling  forms  the  sum  of  their  education,  and  that  is 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


25 


insufficient  to  give  any  one  a practical  knowledge  of  their 
written  language. 

Besides  the  primary  schools  there  are  academies  and 
colleges  located  at  the  provincial  or  larger  cities,  in  each 
of  which  may  he  found  from  half  a dozen  to  twenty  of 
these  schools  of  learning,  and  in  some  of  these  colleges 
are  found  two  or  three  professors  and  two  or  three  hun- 
dred students. 

The  public  examinations  are  held  first  in  the  native 
district  of  the  pupils,  when  the  district  magistrate  selects 
the  theme  and  gives  them  a day  to  write  their  essays. 
The  number  of  pupils  depends  somewhat  upon  the  popu- 
lation of  the  district.  In  some  districts  there  may  be 
but  a few  hundreds,  in  others  two  or  three  thousands. 
When  the  essays  are  handed  in  they  are  looked  over  by 
the  examining  committee,  who  paste  the  names  of  the  suc- 
cessful students  on  the  wall  of  the  magistrate’s  hall.  This 
is  called  a “village  name.”  These  only  are  entered  as 
candidates  for  the  second  examination  which  takes  place 
in  the  chief  town  in  the  county,  and  before  the  chancel- 
lor, and  prefect,  and  magistrate.  This  examination  is  still 
more  rigid  than  the  former.  The  successful  students  here 
have  their  names  posted  on  the  wall  of  the  office,  and 
this  is  called  a county  name.  These  only  are  eligible 
candidates  for  the  third  trial  before  the  chancellor  at  the 
provincial  examinations. 

By  this  time  the  host  of  youthful  aspirants  who  com- 
menced the  race  for  honor  has  greatly  diminished ; still 
the  number  that  come  up  from  the  several  departments 
to  these  provincial  examinations  amounts  to  many  hun- 
dreds and  sometimes  several  thousands.  Those  who  en- 


2 


26 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


tered  the  list  at  Canton  in  1832  numbered  about  six 
thousand.  In  some  provinces  the  list  of  competitors 
numbers  seven  or  eight  thousand.  These,  before  enter- 
ing the  hall  of  examination,  are  personally  searched  to  see 
that  they  have  no  books  nor  essays,  nor  aids  of  any  kind 
secreted  in  their  pockets  or  shoes,  or  the  lining  of  their 
robes,  which  might  aid  them  in  their  examination.  When 
they  are  all  seated  in  their  places,  where  they  are  fur- 
nished with  ink,  pencil  and  paper,  when  the  doors,  win- 
dows and  entrances  to  the  hall  are  all  guarded  by  armed 
men  that  no  one  from  without  should  aid  the  competitors 
within,  the  theme  is  then  given  out  and  every  one  imme- 
diately writes  out  his  essay  and  hands  it  to  the  board  of 
examiners.  The  day  is  allowed  for  the  writing,  and  at  the 
signal  given  the  doors  are  opened  and  the  students  go  out. 

The  examination  hall  is  divided  off  into  small  cells,  each 
measuring  about  three  by  four  feet,  and  high  enough  to 
stand  erect,  having  one  board  for  a seat  and  another  for 
a table,  and  receiving  all  the  light  and  ventilation  from 
the  central  area.  In  the  same  class  may  sometimes  be 
found  the  boy,  his  father  and  grandfather,  striving  to- 
gether for  the  prize.  Before  entering,  they  have  to  state 
to  the  chancellor  their  lineage,  birth-place,  residence, 
age,  etc.  The  provincial  examinations,  are  held  simul- 
taneously in  all  the  eighteen  provinces,  and  occur  about 
the  middle  of  September.  The  themes  given  out  are 
selected  from  the  Four  Books  and  Five  Classics.  The 
medium  length  of  the  compositions  is  a hundred  charac- 
ters, and  one  of  the  four  given  to  each  student  must  be 
written  in  poetry.  When  completed  they  are  collected 
and  handed  over  to  the  board  of  examination  without  a 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


27 


signature.  The  board  are  allowed  twenty-five  days  to 
look  over  the  essays,  when  the  names  of  a few  tens  out  of 
as  many  thousands  are  selected  as  the  successful  ones, 
and  at  the  hour  of  midnight  announced  to  the  expectant 
crowd  from  the  tower  of  the  city,  and  the  next  morning 
proclaimed  through  the  streets  by  a public  crier,  and  soon 
published  throughout  the  province. 

The  first  literary  degree  is  equivalent  to  that  of  “ bach- 
elor of  arts,”  the  second  may  be  compared  to  “ master  of 
arts,”  and  the  third  to  “doctors.”  The  examination  for 
each  is  much  alike,  except  that  the  second  is  held  tri- 
ennially  in  the  provincial  capital,  and  the  latter  at  Pekin. 
The  fourth  degree,  called  Hardin  (cloudy  ladder,)  is 
rather  an  office  than  a degree,  since  those  who  attain  it 
receive  a salary  and  are  enrolled  as  members  of  the 
Imperial  Academy.  The  members  of  a family  or  clan 
often  select  such  of  their  number  as  discover  a talent  for 
study,  and  unite  their  contributions  to  help  them  through 
their  education,  with  the  expectation  of  sharing  in  the 
honors  and  emoluments  which  are  the  rewards  of  the 
successful  student. 

But  while  the  school  boy  may  be  seen,  satchel  in 
hand,  merging  from  every  house,  and  the  hum  of  the 
school  room  may  be  heard  in  every  hamlet,  and  every 
son  of  poverty,  if  he  have  intellect  and  industry,  may 
be  eligible  to  office  and  honor,  still  the  Chinese  have  not 
learned  in  the  school  of  Christ,  and  their  books,  though 
ancient  and  without  number,  contain  not  even  the  rudi- 
ments of  redemption,  nor  the  first  principles  of  the  liter- 
ature of  heaven.  They  may  help  a man  to  earthly  gain 
and  human  glory,  but  offer  no  help  to  the  race  from 


28 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


the  thralldom  of  sin  to  the  inheritance  of  the  sanctified. 
Their  books  contain  many  wise  sayings  and  moral  max- 
ims. They  teach  the  duty  of  piety  to  parents,  but  no 
piety  to  God  ; they  enforce  subjection  to  their  monarch, 
but  no  obedience  to  their  Maker ; they  speak  of  kind- 
ness to  their  friends,  but  no  kindness  to  their  enemies; 
they  teach  a man  to  shield  his  father  from  punishment, 
though  it  may  be  at  the  expense  of  perjury  and  blood. 
They  teach  the  native  innocence  of  man,  but  the  practi- 
cal iniquity  of  the  race  ; they  present  the  sinner’s  curse, 
but  present  no  Saviour’s  cure ; thejr  discourse  learnedly 
about  the  life  here,  but  leave  us  in  the  dark  about  the 
life  hereafter. 


CHAPTER  III. 

LAWS. 

What  of  the  laws?  The  Chinese  government  is  pa- 
triarchal. The  emperor  is  spoken  of  as  the  father,  and 
InSHlttmerous  subjects  as  his  children.  Hence,  with  him, 
to  inflict  banishment,  beheading,  emboweling,  bamboo- 
ing,  etc.,  are  but  acts  of  parental  discipline.  The  unfortu- 
nate delinquent,  who,  for  some  slight  offense,  is  thrown 
down  upon  his  face,  and  receives  forty  blows  from  the 
bamboo,  is  expected  to  arise,  if  he  can,  and  with  as  gra- 
cious a bow  as  he  can  make,  express  his  thanks  to  the 
lictor  “ for  taking  this  kind  care  of  his  education.” 

The  secret  of  keeping  such  a mass  of  men  for  so  long 
a time  together  in  order  and  harmony — a more  ancient 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


29 


and  more  numerous  race  than  ever  lived  so  long  together 
as  a nation — is  found  in  the  plan  of  mutual  rights  and 
individual  responsibility.  Every  man  in  the  empire  is 
made  to  feel  that  he  has  individually  an  interest  in  the 
government  and  a part  to  act  in  promoting  order.  Here 
is  brought  in  requisition  the  grand  principle  of  all  their 
morality,  philosophy,  and  political  economy,  namely,  filial 
piety.  The  emperor  being  the  father,  the  ministers  of  gov- 
ernment the  elder  brothers,  and  the  masses  the  great 
fraternity ; hence  the  doctrine,  taught  and  so  often  reit- 
erated throughout  their  books,  of  harmony  among  the 
brotherhood,  respect  to  superiors,  and  veneration  to  the 
great  paternity,  covers  the  whole  ground  of  civil  gov- 
ernment. The  principle  is  so  far  reduced  to  practice 
that  the  great  father  seated  in  his  arm-chair  at  Peking, 
may  stretch  out  his  hand  and  lay  his  finger  on  the  hum- 
blest and  remotest  subject  of  his  realm.  The  emperor 
holds  his  place  by  hereditary  right  or  the  designation 
of  his  predecessor.  He  has  around  him  six  boards  of 
control  subject  to  him,  and  regulated  by  such  laws  as  he 
may  sanction,  reserving  to  himself  the  most  unlimited 
power  and  the  most  unquestioned  despotism. 

1.  The  Board  of  Civil  Office,  whose  duty  it  is  to  aid 
his  majesty  in  settling  all  questions  of  rank,  promotions, 
and  degradations  from  office,  conferring  titles,  rewards 
and  rank,  appointing  governors,  treasurers,  inspectors, 
judges,  etc.,  etc. 

2.  The  second  is  the  Board  of  Punishments,  whose 
duty  it  is  to  aid  his  majesty  in  maintaining  his  domestic 
discipline.  This  may  be  supposed  to  be  rather  severe, 
when  it  is  stated  that  in  one  city  it  is  not  uncommon  for 


30 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


a thousand  men  annually  to  lose  their  heads  by  order  of 
their  venerated  father. 

3.  The  third  is  the  Board  of  Rites,  which  preside  over 
the  ceremonies  attending  marriages,  funerals,  festivals, 
and  prescribe  how  many  times  a man  shall  bow  iu  taking 
leave  of  his  friend  or  his  superior,  the  congratulations  on 
a new  year,  and  the  ceremonies  attending  a coronation. 
The  Chinese  are  an  extremely  ceremonious  people,  and 
in  all  their  social  and  political  relations  are  slaves  to  its 
power.  Two  men  will  stand  at  a door  bowing  to  each 
other  a half  a dozen  times  to  see  who  shall  first  enter, 
and  perhaps  settle  the  controversy  by  walking  in  side 
by  side.  A guest  will  not  seat  himself  at  the  table  till 
he  sees  his  host  seated.  The  left  hand  is  ceremoniously 
regarded  the  seat  of  honor. 

4.  The  fourth  is  the  Board  of  Revenue,  which  is  to  aid 
the  emperor  in  levying  taxes,  collecting  duties,  which 
are  a part  in  money  and  a part  iu  kind,  and  in  all  the 
receipts  and  disbursements  of  the  treasury  ; regulate  the 
coinage  of  the  copper  cash,  and  the  weight  of  the  ingots 
of  silver  and  gold  used  in  the  place  of  our  paper  cur- 
rency. The  amount  of  revenue  annually  collected  in  the 
Chinese  empire  is  supposed,  on  good  authority,  to  be  over 
sixty  millions  of  pounds  sterling,  or  three  hundred  mil- 
lions of  dollars  annually.  The  income  to  the  country  for 
tea  alone  is  more  than  twenty  millions  of  dollars  annu- 
ally, and  about  an  equal  sum  is  annually  paid  out  of  the 
country  for  opium. 

5.  The  next  is  the  Board  of  War,  which,  under  the 
emperor,  directs  every  thing  connected  with  the  army 
and  navy  ; regulates  the  promotions,  details  the  rank  of 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


31 


military  officers,  which,  are  selected,  not  like  civil  manda- 
rins, from  literary  graduates,  hut  from  men  of  physical 
prowess  and  skill.  This  hoard  regulates  martial  rewards 
and  punishments,  military  reviews,  and  all  maritime  mat- 
ters connected  with  the  imperial  fleet.  These  war  boats 
unfortunately  sometimes  turn  pirates,  and.  their  militia 
are  but  an  armed  police,  and  their  cavalry  mere  couriers 
for  carrying  dispatches.  The  members  of  their  stand- 
ing army  are  employed  in  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  and 
other  pursuits,  and  are  called  out  to  meet  an  emergency. 
In  modern  times,  their  military  reviews  have  existed  only 
in  name,  and  their  standing  armies,  like  their  martial  vic- 
tories, are  found  only  on  paper.  In  their  recent  contests 
with  European  powers,  they  have  met  the  foe  with  un- 
counted numbers,  and  poured  out  treasure  and  blood  like 
water,  but  their  military  defenses  and  their  martial  ex- 
ploits are  not  worthy  the  name  when  opposed  to  modern 
warfare.  They  have  been  mown  down  by  implements  of 
civilized  slaughter  till  their  streets  have  been  turned  to 
rivers  of  blood. 

6.  The  last  is  the  Board  of  "Works,  which  has  under 
its  care  the  building  of  the  imperial  tombs,  the  public 
dykes,  canals,  river  embankments,  temples,  palaces,  al- 
tars, manufacture  or  articles  for  the  use  of  the  court, 
public  buildings  for  granaries,  mint,  coinage,  powder 
manufacture,  sacrificial  vessels,  seals,  college  buildings, 
etc.  These  boards  are  all  accountable  to  his  imperial 
majesty;  then  there  is  a governor  who  is  responsible  for 
his  respective  province  ; the  prefect,  for  his  county ; the 
magistrate,  for  his  town ; the  patriarch,  for  his  clan,  and 
the  father,  for  his  family.  The  practical  working  of  the 


32 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


whole  machinery  of  government  is  very  simple  and  ef- 
fective. If  there  is  a delinquency  in  a given  province 
the  emperor  looks  only  to  the  governor ; he  traces  it  to 
a given  county,  and  makes  the  chief  officer  of  that 
county  responsible  ; he  traces  it  to  a given  town  or  dis- 
trict, and  the  head  man  of  that  district  is  held  respon- 
sible ; he  traces  it  to  a given  clan,  and  the  patriarch  of 
that  clan  is  made  accountable  for  all  that  is  done  by  its 
members ; he  traces  it  to  a family,  and  the  father  is  re- 
sponsible for  all  that  is  done  by  the  members  of  his  family 
— and  the  father  is  taken  to  prison,  to  punishment,  or  to 
death,  unless  the  offending  son  is  delivered  up  to  justice. 
Here  comes  in  force  the  principle  of  filial  piety,  which 
leads  the  son  to  deliver  himself  up  to  the  magistrate,  as 
soon  as  the  delinquency  is  traced  to  his  father’s  family  ; 
for  that  son  which  would  allow  his  father  to  suffer  for 
his  offenses,  would  be  held  up  to  universal  execration. 
We  say  nothing  as  to  the  justice  of  the  principle,  but  in 
its  practical  workings  it  is  most  effective.  If  in  China 
your  servant  purloins  your  goods,  if  you  know  his  dia- 
lect and  to  what  clan  he  belongs,  or  in  what  district  his 
father  lives,  you  may  be  pretty  sure  of  reaching  the  de- 
linquent, and  regaining  your  goods.  Perhaps  no  nation 
in  the  world  can  boast  of  a system  of  police  so  efficient 
as  the  Chinese,  while  the  same  people,  under  the  best 
police  system  of  any  European  nation,  would,  in  three 
cases  out  of  four,  elude  the  hands  of  justice.  We  might 
not  profit  by  adopting  their  system  of  political  economy, 
but  western  nations  might  doubtless  find  some  things  in 
their  political  creed  which  would  afford  them  interesting 
and  profitable  study,  while  it  remains  to  be  seen  whether 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


33 


recent  encroachments  upon  their  long-established  usages 
and  peaceful  reign  will  result  in  their  improved  socia^ 
condition  and  increased  political  prosperity.  There  is, 
however,  amid  these  changes  and  revolutions,  one  en- 
croachment upon  the  long-cherished  customs  of  the  Chi-, 
nese,  of  the  happiest  tendency  and  of  no  doubtful  issue, 
and  that  is  the  introduction  of  the  element  of  Christian- 
ity. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

HISTORY. 

What  of  the  history  of  China?  Aside  from  the  in- 
spired records,  it  gives  us  the  most  ancient  history  in  the 
world.  Its  mythological  statements  reach  back  far  be- 
yond the  writings  of  Moses  and  the  creation  of  man ; 
but  its  reliable  and  well-authenticated  history  comes 
down  to  us  moistened  by  the  waters  of  ISToah’s  flood. 
They  give  us  facts  which  go  far  to  corroborate  the  Mo- 
saic record  of  the  deluge. 

The  Chinese  mythological  era  is  divided  into  two  pe- 
riods, the  first  designated  by  the  Three  Emperors,  the 
second  by  the  Five  Kings.  To  these  they  give  several 
thousand  years.  Chinese  ancient  history  begins  with 
the 


HEA  DYNASTY, 

From  2207  to  1767.  B.  C. 

The  1st 

King, 

Ta-yu, 

Reign  Com- 
menced 

2205 

B.  C. 

“ 2d 

<< 

Te-ke, 

<( 

2197 

a 

“ 3d 

U 

Te-kang, 

U 

2188 

u 

2* 


34 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  4th. 

King, 

Chung-kang, 

Reign  com- 
menced 

2159 

B.  0. 

Cl 

5th 

ll 

Te-seang, 

ll 

2146 

It 

ll 

6th 

ll 

Shaou-kang, 

(( 

2097 

ll 

ll 

7th 

ll 

Te-choo, 

ll 

2057 

U 

u 

00 

cr 

ll 

Te-hwae, 

1C 

2040 

It 

ll 

9 th 

ll 

Te-mang, 

ll 

2014 

ll 

ll 

10  th 

ll 

Te-sie, 

ll 

1996 

ll 

ll 

11th 

ll 

Te-puh-keang, 

ll 

1980 

ll 

ll 

12th 

ll 

Te-Keung, 

ll 

1921 

It 

ll 

13th 

ll 

Te-kin, 

ll 

1900 

ll 

1C 

14th 

ll 

Te-kung-kia, 

ll 

1879 

Cl 

ll 

15th 

ll 

Te-kaou, 

(( 

1848 

it 

1C 

16th 

Cl 

Te  fa, 

ll 

1837 

ll 

ll 

17th 

ll 

Kie-kui, 

ll 

1818  to  1767 

SHANG  DYNASTY. 

1  Ching-tang,  reign  commenced  1766  B.  C. 


2 Tae  kea, 

3 Wuli-ting, 

4 Tae-kang, 

5 Seau-kea, 

6 Yung-ke, 

7 Tae-woo, 

8 Chung-ting, 

9 Wae-jin, 

10  Ho-tan-kea, 

11  Tsoo-yih, 

12  Tsoo-sin, 

13  Wuh-kea, 

14  Tsoo-ting, 

15  Nan-kang, 


“ 1753  “ 

“ 1720  “ 

“ 1691  “ 

“ 1661  “ 

“ 1649  “ 

“ 1637  “ 

“ 1562  “ 

“ 1549  “ 

“ 1534  “ 

“ 1525  “ 

“ 1506  « 

“ 1490  “ 

“ 1465  “ 

“ 1433  “ 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


35 


16  Yang-kea,  reign 

commenced  1408 

B.  C. 

17  Pwan-kang, 

ll 

1401 

ll 

18  Seau-sin, 

ll 

1373 

U 

19  Seau-yih, 

u 

1353 

ll 

20  Woo-ting, 

it 

1324 

ll 

21  Tsoo-kang, 

a 

1265 

ll 

22  Tsoo-kia, 

it 

1258 

ll 

23  Lin-sin, 

u 

1225 

ll 

24  Kang-ting 

a 

1219 

ll 

25  Woo-ylh, 

it 

1198 

ll 

26  Tae-ting, 

a 

1194 

ll 

27  Te-yek, 

ti 

1191 

ll 

28  Chow-sin, 

u 

1154  to  1123 

CHOW 

DYNASTY 

1 Woo-wang,  reign  commenced 

1122 

B.  C. 

2 Ching-wang, 

Cl 

1115 

ll 

3 Kang-wang, 

u 

1078 

ll 

4 Ckau-wang, 

u 

1052 

U 

5 Muh-Wang, 

u 

1001 

ll 

6 Kung-wang, 

Cl 

946 

ll 

7 I-wang, 

u 

934 

ll 

8 Heau-wang, 

u 

909 

ll 

9 E-wang, 

ll 

894 

It 

10  Le-wang, 

ll 

878 

It 

11  Senen-wang, 

ll 

827 

Cl 

12  Yew-wang, 

ll 

781 

ll 

13  Ping-wang, 

ll 

770 

It 

14  Hwan-wang, 

ll 

719 

ll 

15  Chwang-wang, 

ll 

696 

ll 

16  Li-wang, 

ll 

681 

ll 

36 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


17  Hwuy-wang,  reign  commenced  676 

b.  c. 

18  Seang-wang, 

it 

651 

a 

19  King-wang, 

a 

618 

u 

20  Kwang-wang, 

a 

612 

u 

21  Ting-wang, 

u 

606 

u 

22  Keen-wang, 

u 

585 

(t 

23  Lin-wang, 

a 

571* 

a 

24  King-wang, 

u 

544 

a 

25  Keng-wang, 

u 

519 

u 

26  Yuen-wang, 

u 

475 

a 

27  Ching- ting-wang, 

u 

468 

u 

28  Kaou-wang, 

u 

440 

a 

29  Wei-lee-wang, 

u 

425 

a 

30  Gan-wang, 

a 

401 

u 

31  Lee-wang, 

ti 

375 

a 

32  Hien-wang, 

a 

368 

tc 

33  Chin-tsing-wang, 

a 

320 

it 

34  Nan-wang, 

a 

314 

u 

35  Tung-Chow-wang, 

u 

255 

Si 

TSIN  DYNASTY. 

1.  Chwang-siang-wang,  reign,  commenced  249  B.  C. 


HOW  DYNASTY. 

1 Che-hwang-te,  reign  commenced  246  B.  C. 

2 IJrh-she,  “ 209  “ 

HAN  DYNASTY. 

1 Kaou-tsoo,  reign  commenced  202  B.  C. 

2 Hwuy-te,  “ 194  “ 

3 Leu-how,  “ 188  “ 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


37 


4 Wan-te, 

reign  commenced 

179 

B.  C. 

5 King-te, 

it 

156 

. tc 

6 Woo-te, 

140 

It 

7 Chan-te, 

Li 

86 

a 

8 Senen-te, 

li 

73 

it 

9 Yuen-te, 

U 

48 

tt 

10  Ching-te, 

a 

32 

<< 

11  Gae-te, 

u 

6 

it 

12  Ping-te, 

tt 

1 

A.  D. 

13  Joo-tsze-te, 

it 

6 

It 

14  Hwae-yang-wang,  “ 

23 

It 

EASTEEN  HAN. 

1 Kvvang-woo, 

reign  commenced 

25 

A.  D. 

2 Ming-te, 

U 

58 

It 

3 Chang-te, 

It 

76 

li 

4 Ho-te, 

It 

89 

a 

5 Shang-te, 

tt 

106 

it 

6 Gan-te, 

tl 

107 

it 

7 Shun-te, 

li 

126 

tt 

8 Chung-te, 

tl 

145 

it 

9 Chih-te, 

It 

146 

it 

10  Hwan-te, 

tt 

147 

tt 

11  Ling-te, 

tl 

168 

it 

12  Hien-te, 

tt 

190  to  220. 

A F T E E 

HAN  DYNASTY. 

1 Chau-lie, 

reign  commenced 

221 

A.  D. 

2 How-te, 

cc 

223  to  263. 

TSIN  D TNAST  Y. 

1 Woo-te, 

reign  commenced 

264 

A.  D. 

2 Hwuv-te, 

U 

290 

It 

38 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


3 

4 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 


Hwae-te, 

reign  commenced 

307 

A.  D. 

Min-te, 

U 

313 

66 

EASTERN  TSIN. 

Yuen-te, 

reign  commenced 

317 

A.  D. 

Ming-te, 

16 

323 

61 

Ching-te, 

U 

326 

66 

Kang-te, 

U 

343 

66 

Muh-te, 

a 

345 

66 

Gae-te, 

u 

362 

66 

Te-yih, 

u 

363 

66 

Kien-wan, 

61 

371 

66 

Hiau-woo, 

u 

373 

66 

Gan-te, 

66 

397 

66 

Kung-te, 

66 

419 

66 

SUNG  DYNASTY. 

Kaou-tsoo, 

reign  commenced 

420 

A.  D. 

Shau-te, 

66 

423 

66 

Wan-te, 

66 

424 

66 

Woo-te, 

66 

454 

66 

Fei-te, 

66 

465 

66 

Ming-te, 

66 

466 

66 

Tsang-woo-wang,  11 

473 

66 

Shun-te, 

66 

477 

66 

TSE  DYNASTY. 

Kaou-te, 

reign  commenced 

479 

A.  D. 

Woo-te, 

66 

483 

66 

Ming-te, 

66 

494 

66 

Tung-Fwan-how,  “ 

499 

6( 

He-te, 

66 

501 

66 

THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


39 


LIANG  DYNASTY. 


1 Woo-te,  reign  commenced 

502 

2 Kien-wan, 

U 

550 

3 Ynen-te, 

tc 

552 

4 King-te, 

u 

555 

CHIN  DYNASTY. 

1 Kian-tsoo,  reign  commenced 

557 

2 Wan-te, 

It 

560 

3 Fei-te, 

u 

567 

4 Seuen-te, 

It 

569 

5 How-choo, 

(t 

583 

SU  Y DYNASTY. 

1 Kaon-tsoo,  reign  commenced 

589 

2 Yang-te, 

u 

605 

3 Kung-te-yew, 

u 

618 

4 Kung-te-tung, 

a 

618 

TANG  DYNASTY. 

1 Kaon-tsoo,  reign  commenced 

618 

2 Tae-tsung, 

a 

627 

3 Kaou-tsung, 

tt 

650 

4 Chung-tsung, 

tt 

684 

5 Juy-tsnng, 

(C 

711 

6 Heuen-tsnng, 

u 

713 

7 Suh-tsung, 

tt 

75  6 

8 Tae-tsung, 

u 

763 

9 Tih-tsung, 

tt 

780 

10  Shun-tsung, 

u 

805 

11  Hien-tsung, 

u 

806 

12  Muh-tsung, 

it 

821 

A.  D. 

u 

u 

tt 


A.  D. 

it 

u 

it 

a 


A.  D. 

tt 

tt 

tt 


A.  D. 


40 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


13 

King-tsung,  reign 

commenced 

825 

A.  D. 

14 

Wan-tsung, 

ll 

827 

ll 

15 

Woo-tsung, 

ll 

841 

ll 

16 

Seuen-tsung, 

ll 

847 

Cl 

17 

E-tsung, 

u 

860 

ll 

18 

He-tsung, 

Cl 

874 

ll 

19 

Chau-tsung, 

u 

889 

ll 

20 

Chau-seuen-te, 

u 

904 

ll 

AFTER  LIANG  DYNASTY. 

1 

Tae-tsoo,  reign 

commenced 

907 

A.  D. 

2 

Liang-choo-tien, 

U 

913 

ll 

AFTER  TANG  DYNASTY. 

1 

Chwang-tsung,  reign  commenced 

924 

A.  D. 

2 

Ming-tsung, 

u 

927 

ll 

3 

Min-te, 

a 

934 

ll 

4 

Fei-te, 

Cl 

934 

ll 

HOW-TSIN 

DYNASTY 

• 

1 

Kaou-tsoo,  reign 

commenced 

936 

A.  D. 

2 

Chuh-te, 

u 

944 

ll 

HOW-H  AN 

DYNASTY. 

1 

Kan-tsoo,  reign 

commenced 

947 

A.  D. 

2 

Yin-te, 

it 

948 

U 

CHOW  DYNASTY. 

1 

Tae-clioo,  reign 

commenced 

951 

A.  D. 

2 

She-tsung, 

u 

954 

ll 

3 

Kung-te, 

ii 

960 

Cl 

SUNG  DYNASTY. 

1 

Keen-lung,  reign 

commenced 

960 

A.  D. 

2 

Tae-tsung, 

ll 

976 

ll 

THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


41 


3 Chin-tsung, 

reign  commenced 

998 

A.  D. 

4 Jin-tsung, 

n 

1023 

U 

5 Yin-tsuog, 

u 

1064 

it 

6 Skin-tsung, 

tt 

1068 

a 

7 Che-tsung, 

it 

1086 

1C 

8 Hwuy-tsung, 

tt 

1101 

a 

9 Kin-tsung, 

a 

1120 

a 

SOUTHERN  SUNG. 

1 Kaou-tsung, 

reign  commenced  1127 

A.  D. 

2 Hiau-tsung, 

it 

1163 

a 

3 Kwang-tsung, 

it 

1190 

a 

4 Ning-tsung, 

it 

1195 

it 

5 Le-tsung, 

U 

1225 

it 

6 Too-tsung, 

a 

1265 

ct 

7 Kung-tsung, 

u 

1275 

1C 

8 Twan-tsung, 

tt 

1277 

It 

9 Te-peng, 

it 

1278 

it 

TU  EN  DYNASTY. 

1 Ske-tsoo, 

reign  commenced  1279 

A.  D. 

2 Ching-tsung, 

U 

1295 

11 

3 W oo-tsung, 

it 

1308 

it 

4 Jin-tsung, 

a 

1312 

u 

5 Ying-tsung, 

u 

1321 

a 

6 Tai  ting-te, 

it 

1324 

a 

7 Ming-tsung, 

tt 

1329 

a 

8 W an-tsung, 

a 

1330 

tt 

9 Shun-te, 

a 

1333 

tc 

MING  DYNASTY. 

1 Hung-woo, 

reign  commenced 

136S 

A.  D. 

2 Kien-wan, 

U 

1399 

it 

42 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


3 Yung-lo, 

reign  commenced  1403 

A.  D. 

4 Hong-he, 

U 

1425 

<< 

5 Sun-tih, 

ii 

1426 

U 

6 Tien-sun, 

a 

1436 

if 

7 King-tae, 

a 

1450 

a 

8 Ching-hwa, 

u 

1466 

a 

9 Hung-che, 

a 

1488 

u 

10  Ching-tih, 

u 

1506 

u 

11  Kiah-tsing, 

u 

1522 

(( 

12  Lung-king, 

a 

1567 

u 

18  Wan-leib, 

u 

1573 

te 

14  Tae-chang, 

u 

1620 

cc 

15  Tien-ke, 

u 

1621 

a 

16  Tsung-ching, 

u 

1628 

a 

TA-TSING  DYNASTY. 


1 Sun-che, 

reign  commenced  1644 

A.  D. 

2 Kang-he, 

a 

1662 

61 

3 Yung-ching, 

a 

1723 

t 

4 Keen-lung, 

a 

1736 

a 

5 Kea-king, 

u 

1796 

it 

6 Taou-kwang, 

u 

1821 

iC 

7 Hien-fong, 

a 

1850 

16 

This  last  named  and  present  monarch  of  China,  if  not 
the  most  able  statesman  and  popular  sovereign  of  the 
long  list  of  princes  who  have  sat  on  the  imperial  throne, 
yet  his  reign  will  be  acknowledged  the  most  notable 
for  stiring  events  and  strange  revolutions  that  can  be 
found  in  Chinese  history.  The  inroads  made  by  western 
powers  appear  startling  to  them,  as  the  revolution  of 
Tae-peng-wang  is  strange  to  us.  These  events  were 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


43 


foreshadowed,  and  partly  developed  during  the  reign  of 
Taou-kwang.  This  prince,  horn  in  1781,  succeeded  his 
father  to  the  throne,  and  was  crowned  at  the  age  of  for- 
ty years,  when  he  was  described  as  a tall,  lank,  hollow- 
cheeked, black-visaged,  toothless  man  of  great  muscular 
strength,  and  passionately  fond  of  archery  and  martial 
exercise.  He  died  at  Peking,  February,  1850.  The  fol- 
lowing may  be  taken  as  an  obituary  written  by  his  son, 
the  present  emperor : 

“ An  imperial  order.  We  have  received  from  our  late 
imperial  father,  his  majesty,  who  has  just  taken  the  great 
journey,  our  being  and  support,  enjoying  a nourishing, 
anxious  care  as  high  and  boundless  as  heaven.  His  sa- 
.cred  age  had  just  attained  to  threescore  and  ten,  and  his 
force  was  still  vigorous,  so  that  it  might  have  been  calcu- 
lated that  he  would  have  reached  the  period  of  a hun- 
dred years,  and  our  days  of  joy  thus  be  prolonged.  To- 
day at  six  o’clock,  A.M.,  he  called  in  the  chief  Controller 
of  the  Imperial  Kindred,  the  great  ministers  of  the  Pres- 
ence, the  members  of  the  General  Council,  and  high  of- 
ficers of  the  palace,  and  taking  the  Vermillion  pencil  in 
his  hand  ordained  who  should  be  regarded  as  the  impe- 
rial heir  apparent — (his  fourth  son). 

“We  receive  this  decree  in  anguish  and  tears,  lamenting 
it  in  fear  and  dread,  for  we  still  hoped  that  by  the  utmost 
and  constant  care  of  his  affectionate  person,  and  a tempo- 
rary cessation  from  his  burdensome  cares,  that  he  would 
longer  preserve  his  vigor  and  health.  How  unwished 
for!  We  had  scarcely  received  his  last  commands  and 
regards  when  his  malady  increased  in  force  and  violence, 
even  to  the  utmost  limit,  and  he  drove  the  dragon  and 


44 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


became  a guest  on  bigb.  Beating  tbe  ground  and  in- 
voking beaven,  I vainly  assayed  to  reach  after  and  recall 
him. 

“ I reverently  reflect  that  my  august  father  ruled  tbe 
world  for  thirty  years  ; day  and  night  with  careful  dili- 
gence he  attended  to  his  duties,  not  allowing  himself  the 
least  leisure.  In  all  things  he  reverenced  heaven,  and 
imitated  his  predecessors ; and  his  sedulous  attention  to 
the  affairs  of  government,  his  love  for  his  people,  his  lit- 
erary attainments  and  military  prowess  are  not  easily  de- 
scribed. 

“ His  boundless  humanity  drew  all  within  its  influence, 
so  that  every  thing  that  has  breath  can  not  fail  to  express 
their  heartful  laments  at  his  departure.  We,  weeping 
tears  of  blood  and  beating  our  breast,  how  can  we  yet 
refrain  our  words  ? But  remembering  that  the  position 
I succeed  to  is  of  the  greatest  responsibility,  in  order  that 
I may  diligently  obey  the  Holy  who  has  gone  before,  I 
reverently  accept  my  predecessor’s  commands. 

“As  we  consider  the  duties  imposed  upon  our  unwor- 
thy self,  we  are  troubled  with  painful  apprehensions, 
and  our  fears  daily  deepen ; yet  forbearing  grief,  and 
lessening  lamentation  we  tremblingly  mount  the  throne. 
We  still  rely  upon  the  constant  loyalty  of  our  civil  and 
military  officers  of  every  grade  throughout  the  empire  to 
assist  us  to  rule  with  glory. 

“ In  regard  to  the  regulations  for  mourning,  we  have 
received  our  imperial  father’s  will  ordering  it  to  be 
worn  for  twenty-seven  days,  according  to  old  rules  of  * 
the  Manchus  ; but  our  feelings  can  not  admit  of  this, 
and  in  accordance  with  the  ancient  custom  of  China,  let 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


45 


mourning  be  reverently  worn  for  three  years,  thus  in 
some  degree  relieving  our  affectionate  regrets. 

“In  regard  to  the  important  ceremonies  of  sacrificing 
to  heaven  and  earth,  and  in  the  hall  of  ancestors,  there 
should  evidently  be  no  diminution  in  any  of  the  rites  on 
account  of  mourning.  Let  this  public  command  be  pro- 
claimed throughout  the  empire  and  in  other  countries  for 
general  information.  Respect  this.” 

This  successor  to  Taou-kwang’s  throne  was  his  fourth 
son,  his  elder  brothers  being  passed  over  by  the  royal 
father  in  consequence  of  their  intemperate  habits  or  dis- 
solute character. 

As  the  entire  inhabitants  of  the  empire  are  regarded 
as  children  of  a common  family,  when  the  emperor,  the 
great  father  of  them  all,  goes  to  ramble  among  the  celes- 
tial hills — an  emperor  never  dies — then  all  the  people 
go  into  mourning.  This  requires  them  to  go  unshaven, 
to  wear  sackcloth,  and  the  badge  of  white. 

Thus  ended  the  stormy  reign  of  Taou-kwang  (Reason’s 
Glory),  having  during  the  whole  thirty  years  been  dis- 
quieted by  internal  insurgents,  and  closed  by  unequal 
contests  with  foreign  foes. 

The  present  incumbent  of  the  dragon  throne  succeeded 
to  dominion  immediately  after  the  demise  of  his  imperial 
father,  in  February,  1850,  but  that  year  was  reckoned  as 
the  thirtieth  year  of  Taou-kwang,  and  the  new  monarch 
dates  the  first  year  of  his  reign  from  February  1,  1851. 
He  takes  the  title  of  Hien-fung,  which  signifies  great 
abundance.  His  family  name  is  Yih-chu,  and  Hien-fong 
is  his  reigning  title.  He  is  the  fourth  son  of  his  impe- 
rial father,  and  ascended  to  his  cloudy  pinnacle  at  the 


46 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


age  of  nineteen  years.  He  forms  the  seventh  of  the  line 
of  the  Manchu  Tartar  monarchs,  who  have  ruled  China 
since  1644,  and  have  compelled  the  Chinese  to  wear  the 
cue  as  a mark  of  their  subjection  to  a foreign  power. 

As  he  has  been  unseen  by  barbarian  eyes,  and  by  few 
of  his  own  subjects,  little  is  known  to  the  world  of  his 
person,  his  character  or  habits.  Some  say  he  is  likely 
to  do  honor  to  his  country.  Others  ask,  how  can  such  a 
novice,  at  such  a time  as  this,  wield  a scepter  surrounded 
by  so  many  responsibilities  and  dangers?  The  charm 
of  regal  power  is  broken.  As  the  Chinese  discover  that 
the  Son  of  Heaven  is  obliged  to  capitulate  with  foreign 
barbarians,  they  may  question  his  ability  to  control  the 
spirits  of  insurrection  within  his  own  dominions,  and  it 
would  not  be  unlike  human  nature  elsewhere,  if  the  Chi- 
nese, instead  of  giving  their  sovereign  divine  homage, 
should  ere  long  drive  him  from  his  throne.  The  mystery 
is  that  such  an  exceedingly  multitudinous,  and  highly 
enlightened,  and  largely  civilized  people,  should  be  so 
long  held  together,  and  swayed  by  the  will  of  one  man. 
In  other  countries,  despotism  is  based  upon  ignorance, 
here  it  is  built  up  on  the  bulwarks  of  education ; there, 
the  strength  of  the  kingdom  is  found  in  a national  army 
and  military  prowess,  here,  in  the  classics  of  the  sages 
and  moral  suasion.  But  corruptions  are  creeping  into 
the  Chinese  government.  The  throne,  in  want  of  funds, 
has  allowed  men  of  means  to  buy  a button  of  office,  with- 
out the  requisite  study  and  literary  degree. 

The  importation  of  opium  has  drained  the  country  of 
its  specie.  The  use  of  the  drug  has  enfeebled  the  phys- 
ical powers  of  the  laboring  classes,  and  engrossed  the  time 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


47 


of  students,  corrupted  the  character  of  officials,  and  led 
to  a neglect  of  public  duties  ; while  the  contests  with 
foreign  foes  have  drawn  men  from  their  farms  to  defend 

O 

their  country ; thus  the  fields  have  been  unsown  and 
harvests  ungathered,  leaving  whole  districts  in  a state  of 
famine,  which  in  its  turn  lessens  the  public  revenue.  A 
score  of  millions  is  paid  to  settle  a war  with  England,  which 
before  had  cost  China  wholesale  treasures,  rivers  of  blood, 
and  the  lives  of  multitudes  of  the  best  of  her  subjects. 

The  want  of  government  protection  has  driven  many 
from  honest  employment,  starvation  has  thrown  multi- 
tudes upon  public  charity,  and  these,  together  with  col- 
lateral causes,  have  covered  their  waters  with  pirates,  and 
their  provinces  with  insurgents.  Before  1850,  when  his 
imperial  majesty,  styled  Reason’s  Glory,  had  gone  to  ram- 
ble among  the  celestial  hills,  it  might  have  been  said  of 
his  earthly  empire,  the  glory  has  departed.  It  is  not  to 
be  supposed  that  henceforth  the  mass  of  Chinese  mind, 
as  heretofore,  is  to  be  swayed  by  one  man. 

If  the  present  emperor  is  allowed  to  select  his  succes- 
sor, he  can  not  transfer  to  him  a title  deed  to  an  unbroken 
empire,  and  the  support  of  a universally  lo}Tal  people. 
Though  at  his  induction  into  office  he  may  have  pro- 
claimed his  succession  to  the  empire  by  the  ordinance  of 
heaven,  and  that  “the  mighty  foundations  of  his  dynasty 
were  laid  in  ancient  time  by  the  sainted,  the  immortal, 
the  exalted,  and  the  humane,  each  increasing  the  glory 
of  the  empire,  and  blending  its  parts  harmoniously  to- 
gether, and  that  all  were  the  subjects  of  heaven’s  most 
paternal  affection yet  revolt  and  anarchy  have  soon 
succeeded. 


48 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


CHAPTER  V. 

THE  INSURRECTION. 

In  1833  a young  student  came  from  Kwang-si  (wide 
west),  a few  miles  west  of  the  city  of  Canton,  to  the  pro- 
vincial city,  to  attend  the  literary  examinations.  At  this 
time  all  missionary  work  had  been  confined  chiefly  to 
the  study  of  the  language  and  private  instructions  in  the 
family.  Then,  to  preach  Christ  openly  would  have  been 
a capital  crime.  Then,  Dr.  Morrison’s  missionary  ca- 
reer was  near  its  close.  He  had  done  a great  work  in 
the  translation  of  the  Bible  and  the  preparation  of  books 
and  tracts,  and  was  about  to  go  to  his  reward.  His  dis- 
ciple, Liang  Afa,  prompted  by  a desire  to  benefit  his 
countrymen,  drew  up  a few  brief  tracts,  among  which 
was  one  giving  an  account  of  his  own  conversion.  Get- 
ting them  printed,  he  started  out  in  the  city  of  Canton, 
by  the  promptings  of  a warm  heart,  but  at  the  peril  of 
his  head,  to  scatter  these  printed  pages  of  truth  among 
the  thousands  of  young  men  then  gathered  at  this  pro- 
vincial city  for  the  literary  examinations.  Among  the 
number  who  received  tracts  from  Liang  Afa  was  the 
young  man  before  alluded  to,  and  who  has  since  as- 
sumed the  title  of  Tai-peng-wang,  and  is  at  the  head  of 
the  revolution.  On  returning  home  he  looked  the  tracts 
over,  and  laid  them  aside.  In  1837  he  fell  sick  and  had 
a vision.  He  says  his  spirit  was  taken  up  into  heaven, 
where  he  saw  a “venerable  old  man,”  and  an  “elder 
brother,”  and  received  from  them  instructions  corre- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


49 


sponding  to  the  doctrines  he  had  read  in  those  tracts. 
When  his  friends  all  thought  he  was  about  to  die,  he 
almost  miraculously  recovered,  and  soon  commenced 
putting  in  execution  the  commission  he  says  he  received 
in  heaven,  viz.,  to  destroy  images  and  temples  and  the 
government  that  supported  them.  He  broke  his  own 
idols,  and  the  idols  in  the  temples  in  the  neighborhood, 
and  gathering  a few  adherents  around  him,  went  on  de- 
stroying all  the  implements  of  idol  worship  around  him. 
From  these  beginnings  he  proceeded  with  such  vigor 
and  boldness  as  to  fill  the  priesthood  with  pious  horror, 
and  the  local  government  with  dread.  He  encountered 
difficulties  and  overcame  them,  he  met  foes  and  van- 
quished them,  marching  through  the  heart  of  the  coun- 
try, and  in  four  months  took  the  capital  city  in  four  of 
the  eighteen  provinces  of  the  empire,  and  then  en- 
trenched himself  securely  within  Hanking,  the  ancient 
capital  of  the  country,  and  there  established  a formal 
government  over  thirty  millions  of  people — equal  to  the 
entire  population  of  the  United  States.  There,  in  the 
center  of  the  empire,  and  in  the  face  of  all  the  powers 
of  the  Tartar  dynasty,  he  has  maintained  himself  with 
increasing  influence  and  growing  strength.  He  claims 
to  be  a descendant  of  the  old  Ming  dynasty,  and  pro- 
poses a restoration  of  the  Chinese  authority,  which  in 
the  Ming  dynasty  was  suppressed  by  the  conquests  of 
the  present  reigning  power  of  the  Manchu  Tartars, 
which  have  borne  rule  in  China  for  the  last  two  hun- 
dred years. 

What  is  still  more  remarkable  in  the  government  of 
this  man,  is  its  religious  element.  Strange  to  say,  if  it 

a 


50 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


prove  successful,  as  it  now  promises,  this  is  but  the  inau- 
guration of  a nominal  Christian  dynasty.  The  Christian 
Scriptures  are  made  the  basis  of  their  civil  code  and  the 
text  books  in  their  literary  examinations.  The  Bible  ot 
the  Christian  is  daily  read  in  court  and  in  the  camp,  and 
worship,  in  form  at  least,  is  daily  offered  by  all  their 
hosts  to  the  one  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  This  may 
claim  further  notice,  under  the  head  of  Christianity  in 
China.  Thus  much  we  have  thought  necessary  to  state 
in  connection  with  the  government  of  the  country. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

RELIGION. 

What  is  the  religion  of  China?  The  Chinese  main- 
tain that  their  ancestors  were  not  worshipers  of  images, 
but  that  they  worshiped  heaven  and  earth,  as  the  pro- 
genitors of  the  race  and  the  protectors  of  men.  Tracing 
back  their  history  to  the  immediate  descendants  of  Noah, 
it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  for  a time  their  early 
fathers  retained  some  correct  ideas  of  the  true  God  ; but 
this  was  lost  in  the  mist  of  polytheism  that  succeeded. 
Their  images  and  objects  of  worship  are  without  num- 
ber. They  have  gods  not  only  of  the  heavens  and  the 
earth,  but  gods  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars — gods  of  the 
rains,  wind  and  seasons — gods  of  the  rivers  and  the 
lakes — gods  of  the  mountains  and  the  meadows — gods 
of  the  thunder  and  the  lightning — gods  of  the  fire  and 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


51 


the  furnace — gods  of  wealth  and  of  war — gods  of  the 
city  and  the  country — gods  of  mechanics  and  merchan- 
dise— gods  of  agriculture  and  literature — gods  of  every 
profession  and  of  each  pursuit — the  goddess  of  heaven 
and  the  goddess  of  the  seas — the  goddess  of  mercy  and 
the  demon  of  misery.  You  meet  the  old  devotee  of 
idolatry  with  a basket  of  fruits,  a roast  duck,  or  a pig’s 
head,  accompanied  by  his  little  boy  with  a handful  of  tin- 
sel paper  and  incense  sticks,  winding  their  way  over  the 
hills  towards  a pagan  spire  that  glitters  in  the  morning 
sunlight,  and  instead  of  our  usual  salutations,  it  would 
be  decorous  to  ask,  “Friend,  where  are  you  going?” 
He  responds,  “ I am  going  to  worship  the  devil !” 
“ Why  do  you  worship  the  devil  ?”  He  says,  “If  we 
worship  a good  god  that  is  of  no  use,  he  will  not  harm 
you;  but  it  is  important  to  keep  on  good  terms  with 
the  devil !”  Thus  they  worship  the  devil,  because  they 
fear  him ; they  worship  the  fire,  let  it  should  burn  their 
dwellings ; they  worship  the  floods,  lest  they  should  flow 
their  fields;  they  worship  disease,  lest  it  should  destroy 
their  families ; they  worship  the  door  to  keep  out  evil 
spirits.  Their  most  sincere  worship  is  paid  to  their  an- 
cestors, and  those  who  nourished  their  infancy.  This  is 
an  idolatry  of  which  Young  America  is  not  guilty,  and 
a sin  not  likely  soon  to  curse  our  land. 

The  Chinese,  not  satisfied  with  worshiping  all  these 
idols  separately,  sometimes  compound  them,  on  the  prin- 
ciple of  compounding  medicine.  They  have  a theory 
that  the  human  system  is  composed  of  five  elements — 
metal,  wood,  fire,  water,  and  earth — and  these  in  due 
proportions,  and  acting  harmoniously,  promote  health, 


52 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


while  either  being  defective  or  in  excess  produces  disease. 
An  excess  of  fire  produces  fever,  an  excess  of  water  pro- 
duces dropsy,  an  excess  of  earth  produces  dysentery, 
etc.  They  give  specific  remedies  to  counteract  any 
disease,  and  failing  to  hit  it,  the  practitioner  may  com- 
pound his  remedies,  saying  if  one  fail  another  may  cure. 
So  with  their  gods,  after  trying  a number  separately  they 
may  worship  a collection  in  compound ; and  finally,  if 
one  of  their  gods  becomes  incorrigible,  and  will  not  be 
propitiated,  he  may  be  cuffed  or  kicked  out  of  place. 
For  example,  in  time  of  drought,  the  god  of  waters  is 
addressed,  that  he  may  open  the  clouds  : and  if  the  rain 
does  not  come  after  several  days’  invocation  and  prayers, 
after  burning  a great  deal  of  incense  and  gilt  paper,  re- 
course is  had  to  insult.  ‘‘Thou  art  a robber,”  they  will 
say  ; “ give  us  what  we  ask  thee,  or  return  what  we  of- 
fered thee.  Thy  vanity  takes  pleasure  in  our  homage ; 
it  is  for  that  thou  wilt  have  us  offer  thee  so  much.  But, 
dost  thou  see,  the  suppliants  have  now  a stick  in  their 

hands ! Make  it  rain,  or  else ” and  thereupon  the 

divinity  is  remorselessly  cudgeled. 

As  for  the  domestic  gods,  the  thing  is  still  more  amus- 
ing. When  the  affairs  of  the  house  go  wrong,  or  there 
is  any  misfortune  in  the  family,  the  ugly  fellow  has  to 
bear  all  the  penalty.  His  destiny  is  soon  decided  ; he  is 
deposed  from  his  honorable  pedestal,  and  banished  as  a 
worthless  god  to  the  grounds  of  some  temple,  not  daring 
to  leave  him  exactly  in  a common  or  profane  place ; and 
his  divorce  from  the  family  is  signified  somewhat  in  the 
following  terms : “We  have  been  adoring  thee  for  so 
many  years,  we  have  burned  before  thine  altar  so  many 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


53 


pounds  of  incense,  we  have  made  to  thee  such  a number 
of  prostrations,  the  expense  we  have  imposed  on  our- 
selves to  please  thee  is  enormous  ; nevertheless,  the  wor- 
ship of  thee  has  not  rendered  to  us  a cash.  Know  then, 
that  we  no  longer  expect  any  thing  of  thee,  and  that  we 
henceforth  renounce  thy  favors.  Find,  if  thou  canst, 
such  devoted  adorers  ; as  for  us,  we  are  going  to  seek  for 
more  generous  divinities.  However,  to  quit  as  good 
friends,  we  offer  thee  a final  homage.”  At  this,  all  the 
family  prostrate  their  heads  to  the  ground,  and  thus  ter- 
minates the  farewell. 

The  votaries  of  these  multiplied  forms  of  idolatry  may 
be  divided  into  three  general  classes : the  Confucianists, 
Budhists,  and  Tauists.  Confucianism  had  its  origin 
about  550  B.  C.,  with  the  sage  whose  name  it  bears.  At 
that  time  China  was  divided  into  several  petty  kingdoms, 
and  Confucius  had  his  origin  in  the  Lu  country,  now 
the  province  of  Shantung  (Eastern  Hills).  He  was 
the  son  of  a statesman,  and  acted  an  important  part  in 
the  affairs  of  his  country.  His  principles  of  morality 
and  state  legislation  now  constitute  the  ethics  and  juris- 
prudence of  the  empire.  He  was  far  in  advance  of  the 
age  in  which  he  lived,  and  was  obliged  to  leave  his  na- 
tive province  to  avoid  a participation  in  the  evils  which 
he  zealously  but  vainly  labored  to  remove.  As  he  trav- 
eled abroad  he  devoted  himself  to  the  instruction  of  the 
people  and  the  composition  of  his  books,  which  now 
constitute  the  standards  of  Chinese  literature.  He  may 
be  said  to  be  the  author  of  a system  of  philosophy, 
rather  than  the  founder  of  a new  religion,  and  he  excels 
his  contemporaneous  sage,  the  founder  of  the  Italian 


54 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


philosophy,  and  some  of  his  moral  maxims  approach 
the  salutary  Proverbs  of  the  Jewish  sage  ; but  his  purest 
sayings  and  loftiest  morality  come  infinitely  short  of  the 
lessons  of  wisdom  and  doctrines  of  salvation  which  fell 
from  the  lips  of  the  Saviour  of  the  world. 

The  father  of  Confucius  was  a district  magistrate  in 
the  city  of  Tsau,  in  the  district  of  what  is  now  the  prov- 
ince of  Shantung ; and  he  was  born  the  year  in  which 
Cyrus  became  sovereign  of  the  Medes  and  Persians.  He 
was  contemporary  with  Pythagoras,  and  Socrates  ap- 
peared not  long  after.  Subsequent  veneration  for  the 
sage  has  surrounded  his  birth  with  many  marvels,  such 
as  heavenly  music  in  the  air,  two  dragons  wending  over 
the  roof,  five  venerable  men  appearing  at  the  door,  five 
characters  seen  on  his  breast  at  his  birth,  which  declared 
him  to  be  “the  maker  of  a rule  for  settling  the  world.” 
Tradition  reports  that  as  he  grew  up  his  stature  was  nine 
cubits  and  a half ; and  whatever  may  have  been  the 
length  of  the  cubit  in  those  days,  everybody  called  him 
the  tall  man. 

Confucius  lost  his  father  at  the  age  of  three  years,  and 
during  his  youth  he  was  poor  and  unknown.  He  was  a 
young  man  of  great  sedateness  and  wisdom,  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  years  was  appointed  to  the  general  su- 
pervision of  the  fields  and  parks.  During  this  year  he 
was  married,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  his  only  son 
was  born.  At  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  lost  his  mother, 
and  the  three  following  years  were  spent  in  mourning 
and  retirement  from  office,  and  employed  in  study.  As 
the  result  of  these  studies,  he  resolved  to  devote  his  life 
to  the  instruction  of  his  countrymen.  In  doing  this,  he 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


55 


composed  a series  of  books  in  which  his  doctrines  were 
exhibited,  and  founded  a school  to  train  pupils  who 
should  diffuse  his  doctrines  throughout  the  empire.  He 
had  three  thousand  pupils,  and  seventy-two  of  them  de- 
voted themselves  to  the  diffusion  of  his  doctrines.  Con- 
fucius traveled  much,  and  like  Socrates  and  our  Saviour, 
drew  lessons  from  passing  objects  for  the  instruction  of 
his  disciples.  Once  while  walking  with  them  by  the 
banks  of  a stream,  he  paused  from  time  to  time,  looking 
intently  into  the  water,  until  their  attention  was  excited 
to  ask  the  reason.  Said  he,  “ the  running  of  water  in  its 
bed  is  very  simple ; the  reason  of  which  everybody 
knows  ; but  I was  in  my  own  mind  making  a compari- 
son between  the  running  of  water  and  the  duration  of 
doctrine.  The  water  runs  unceasingly,  by  day  and  by 
night,  until  it  is  lost  in  the  deep.  Since  the  days  of  Yau 
and  Shun  (2300  B.  C.),  the  pure  doctrine  has  descended 
to  us ; let  us  in  turn  transmit  it  to  those  who  come  after 
us,  that  they  from  our  example  may  give  it  to  their  de- 
scendants to  the  end  of  time.  Do  not  imitate  those  iso- 
lated men  who  are  wise  only  for  themselves  ; to  commu- 
nicate to  others  the  modicum  of  knowledge  and  virtue 
we  possess  will  never  impoverish  ourselves.”  This  sen- 
timent is  worthy  of  a place  in  the  Christian’s  creed. 

Again,  he  saw  a fowler  ensnaring  birds  in  a net,  and 
contemplating  them,  remarked  that  they  were  all  young 
ones,  and  asked  the  fowler  what  he  did  with  the  old 
birds.  The  fowler  replied,  the  old  birds  are  too  wise  to 
be  caught,  and  the  young  ones  that  company  with  them 
escape  with  them,  but  the  young  ones  that  flock  together 
are  easily  entangled.  Confucius  turning  to  his  disciples 


56 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


said,  “ you.  hear  his  words.  The  young  birds  escape  the 
snare  only  when  they  keep  with  the  old  ones — so  with 
young  people.  But  when  young  people  have  scarcely 
made  a "beginning  in  learning,  inflated  with  their  small 
attainments,  they  fancy  themselves  at  the  height  of  wis- 
dom. Under  this  vain  impression  they  doubt  nothing, 
hesitate  at  nothing,  and  without  consulting  age  or  expe- 
rience, rashly  run  to  ruin.  Do  not  forget  the  answer  of 
the  fowler,  but  reflect  on  it  occasionally.”  Confucius  in 
his  travels  visited  several  princes  at  their  courts,  and  was 
often  listened  to  with  respect,  but  his  rules  were  too  se- 
vere to  find  a ready  adoption  by  those  voluptuous  kings 
and  courtiers. 

He  afterward  returned  to  his  native  state,  where  for  ten 
years  his  house  was  made  a sort  of  lyceum,  open  to  ev- 
ery one  who  wished  to  receive  instruction.  His  manner 
of  instruction  was  to  allow  his  disciples  and  others  to 
come  and  go  as  they  pleased,  asking  his  opinions  on  such 
points,  either  in  morals,  politics,  history  or  literature,  as 
they  wished  to  have  explained.  His  disciples  were  com- 
posed of  all  ranks  and  all  ages,  who  attended  upon  him 
as  their  duties  or  inclination  permitted,  and  who  assisted 
in  diffusing  a knowledge  of  his  doctrines  over  the  country. 

Confucius  was  afterward  invited  to  the  court  of  his  na- 
tive state,  when  the  young  prince  committed  to  him  the 
whole  management  of  the  state,  and  his  activity,  justice 
and  integrity  had  the  happiest  influence  upon  the  coun- 
try. He  introduced  order  and  sobriety  in  the  place 
of  waste  and  injustice,  encouraged  agriculture,  regulat- 
ed the  revenue  so  that  the  productions,  happiness  and 
prosperity  of  the  country  were  greatly  increased.  The 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


57 


neighboring  princes  becoming  envious  at  the  growing 
prosperity  and  power  of  the  Lu  country,  under  the  wise 
management  of  Confucius,  contrived  to  seduce  his  young 
prince  into  luxurious  habits,  so  that  the  presence  of  the 
sage  soon  became  irksome  to  his  master,  who  could  no 
longer  endure  his  remonstrances.  Confucius  at  the  age 
of  fifty  left  his  own  country  and  retired  to  the  kingdom 
of  Wei,  where  he  remained  for  ten  years  or  more  devoted 
to  literature.  At  the  age  of  sixty-eight,  Confucius  re- 
turned to  his  own  country.  Two  years  after,  his  wife 
died,  and  the  next  year  his  favorite  disciple  died.  His 
grandson  survived,  and  became  the  author  of  “ True  Me- 
dium,” and  was  the  teacher  of  Mencius. 

Approaching  his  end,  Confucius  assembled  his  disci- 
ples on  one  of  the  little  hills  wrhere  sacrifices  had  been 
usually  offered,  and  there  erected  an  altar  on  which  he 
placed  his  books,  the  Five  Classics,  then  turning  his  face 
toward  the  north,  and  on  his  knees,  gave  thanks  to  heaven, 
that  life  and  strength  had  been  granted  him  to  complete 
his  laborious  undertaking,  and  implored  benefit  to  his 
country  from  his  labors.  He  died  in  the  seventy -third 
year  of  his  age,  479  B.  C.,  and  about  seven  years  before 
the  birth  of  Socrates.  During  his  life  the  Jews  returned 
to  their  country  and  completed  the  building  of  the  sec- 
ond temple,  Xerxes  invaded  Greece,  Egypt  was  conq- 
ured,  and  the  Persian  monarchy  was  fully  established. 
In  the  year  that  Confucius  died  Athens  was  burned  to 
the  ground  by  Mardonius. 

Filial  joietv  was  made,  not  only  the  basis,  but  the  ce- 
menting bond  of  his  system  of  morals,  and  his  whole 
political  machinery.  From  the  duty,  honor,  and  obedi- 

3* 


58 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ence  due  from  the  child  to  the  parents,  he  proceeds  to 
inculcate  the  obligations  of  the  wife  to  the  husband,  of 
subjects  to  their  prince,  ministers  to  their  king,  while  he 
makes  the  head  also  amenable  to  heaven.  His  system 
inculcates  honesty,  justice,  and  benevolence,  while  his 
practice  encourages  polytheism,  polygamy,  and  implaca- 
ble jrevenge.  On  the  wfiole,  perhaps  no  merely  human 
teacher  can  boast  a code  so  moral,  converts  so  many,  or 
a course  of  life  so  much  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his 
country.  His  sayings  are  the  household  words  of  every 
family,  his  writings  the  text-book  of  every  school,  and 
his  doctrines  the  principles  of  government  in  every  part 
of  the  empire.  He  is  worshiped  by  every  school  boy, 
and  held  up  as  a model  by  every  scholar,  and  adored  as 
a saint  by  the  most  numerous,  the  most  enlightened,  the 
most  learned,  and  the  most  superstitious  pagan  people  on 
the  globe.  The  Christian  teacher  would  as  soon  think  of 
improving  the  sayings  and  sentiments  of  his  divine  Re- 
deemer as  the  Chinese  scholar  would  presume  to  mold  or 
modify  the  teachings  of  his  venerated  sage.  His  system 
gives  to  heaven  and  earth  the  credit  of  making  man,  and 
reserves  to  the  sages  the  honor  of  giving  him  the  finish- 
ing stroke ; so  that  the  honor  is  about  equally  divided 
between  the  three — heaven,  earth,  and  the  sages.  Man 
comes  into  the  world  with  a heart  inclined  to  virtue,  op- 
posed to  vice,  and  a feeling  of  benevolence ; if  neglected 
he  tends  to  vice,  if  cultivated  he  returns  to  the  native  pu- 
rity of  his  nature.  Before  the  creation  of  man  there  existed 
a producing  power  they  call  Tai-kek.  By  the  action  of 
this  power  came  the  principle  called  Yang , the  male ; by 
the  quiescence  of  this  power  came  the  principle  called 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


59 


Yim , the  female.  These  two  principles  are  found  in  every 
department  of  nature. 

Heaven  is  male,  earth  female ; the  sun  is  male,  the 
moon  female ; the  day  is  male,  the  night  female ; light  is 
male,  darkness  female ; good  is  male,  e.vil  female.  This 
idea  runs  through  every  department  of  life,  every  philo- 
sophical theory,  every  branch  of  science,  every  profes- 
sional system,  every  mechanical  art. 

Confucius  was  a great  man,  and  a profound  teacher. 
He  lived  respected  and  died  universally  lamented.  Tem- 
ples are  erected,  and  images  and  pictures  are  worshiped 
in  honor  of  his  memory.  His  code  of  morals,  the  purest 
of  mere  human  systems,  his  constitution  of  government 
the  least  exceptionable,  perhaps,  of  all  absolute  monar- 
chies, and  his  philosophy  as  profound  as  other  systems 
of  human  origin,  leave  untouched  the  great  truths  of  a- 
Deity  and  a future  life,  and  unsolved  the  momentous 
question  of  man’s  salvation. 

The  modern  disciples  of  Confucius  include  scholars, 
teachers,  candidates  for  civil  appointment,  and  all  officers 
of  government.  Confucianism,  in  short  a system  of  the- 
ism, is  the  state  religion  of  China.  Its  disciples,  how- 
ever, incorporate  in  their  practice  many  of  the  ceremonies 
of  other  religious  creeds. 

The  next  creed  we  notice  is  Budhism.  This,  though 
of  foreign  origin,  and  of  comparatively  modern  introduc- 
tion unto  China,  includes  a greater  number  of  adherents, 
and  presents  more  of  a religious  character  than  any  other 
system  in  the  empire.  According  to  its  own  religious 
teachers  and  sacred  books,  they  have  no  God,  no  Supreme 


60 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Being,  who  made  the  world,  whom  they  fear  or  venerate, 
who  will  call  them  to  an  account,  or  reward  or  punish 
them  for  their  deeds.  Reward  follows  merit,  and  punish- 
ment, follows  malice  as  a certain  consequence.  Hence,  an 
accumulation  of  good  deeds,  such  as  building  temples  and 
feeding  priests,  secures  either  in  the  present,  or  some  of 
the  numerous  future  states  of  being  through  which  they 
are  to  pass,  a reward  of  happiness ; while  wickedness, 
such  as  killing  a cow  or  taking  any  animal  life,  will  be 
followed  with  a sure  penalty  of  suffering,  either  in  the 
present  or  some  future  state  of  being.  But  no  God,  nor 
intelligent  agent,  has  any  part  in  awarding  these  premi- 
ums or  penalties ; they  follow  as  a necessary  sequence. 

Godama,  the  last  god  of  the  Budhists,  according  to 
their  own  chronology,  died  B.  C.  543.  He  is  said  to  be 
the  twenty-fifth  Budha,  and  the  fourth  of  the  present 
Xalpa,  or  world.  One  more  Budha,  viz.,  Maitree,  is 
expected  during  the  present  world.  Godama  was  of 
princely  birth ; his  native  place  was  on  the  banks  of 
the  Ganges,  some  three  or  four  hundred  miles  from  its 
mouth.  Hear  his  birth-place  are  the  present  Patna  and 
Benares — two  places  famed  for  the  production  of  opium. 
Thus  the  same  district  may  claim  the  honor  of  furnish- 
ing the  world  with  two  specifics  for  putting  men  to 
sleep.  One  reduces  its  votaries  to  a temporary  dream 
of  happiness,  from  which  they  soon  awake  to  real  mis- 
ery— and  the  miseries  thus  entailed  upon  the  Chinese  are 
more  than  all  inflicted  by  plague,  pestilence  and  famine ; 
the  other  promises  its  disciples,  as  the  reward  of  their 
meritorious  services,  an  absorption  into  nothingness!  The 
Budhists  do  not  imagine  that  Godama  himself,  in  any 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


61 


sense,  is  now  existent,  but  verily  believe  that  when  he 
died  his  intellectual  being,  which  had  till  then  constituted 
his  identity  throughout  the  various  stages  of  transmigra- 
tory  existence,  became  absolutely  extinct.  The  disciples 
of  Budha,  now  including  so  many  hundred  millions  of 
the  human  race,  have  no  god  to  fear,  no  god  to  worship, 
no  god  to  punish  or  protect  them — since,  according  to 
their  own  theory,  Godama,  more  than  two  thousand 
years  ago,  passed  into  absolute  annihilation. 

The  images  of  Budha  represent  a human  figure  with 
a sleepy  countenance — having  the  toes,  as  well  as  the 
fingers,  of  an  equal  length,  and  the  ears  extending  to 
the  shoulders.  These  are  made  of  gold  or  silver,  of 
iron  or  brass,  of  bricks  and  mortar,  of  wood  and  stone, 
of  every  variety  of  size,  from  the  length  of  a finger  to 
the  length  of  a hundred  feet.  They  are  usually  in  a 
sitting  posture,  but  the  larger  ones  are  sometimes  in  a 
half  reclining  position,  resting  on  one  elbow.  The  writer 
saw  one  which  measured  a hundred  and  thirty  feet  in 
length,  in  good  proportions,  and  in  a reclining  posture. 
It  was  built  of  bricks  and  mortar,  and  covered  with  ce- 
ment, and  gilded  from  head  to  foot.  Sometimes  a hun- 
dred or  more  of  these  images,  as  large  as  a human  figure, 
are  seen  surrounding  a single  temple,  with  one,  forty  or 
fifty  feet  high,  in  a sitting  posture  under  cover  of  the 
roof.  At  other  times,  bushels  of  little  images,  made  of 
clay,  are  placed  in  the  niches  around  the  walls  of  the 
temple. 

The  Budhist  priests  wear  a yellow  robe,  shave  the 
head,  and,  in  person,  collect  their  daily  food  from  house 
to  house,  at  early  dawn.  Their  food  is  eaten  before  mid- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


day,  except  a little  fruit,  tea,  etc.  Their  books  proscribe 
animal  food  for  the  priesthood,  but  they  often  violate 
their  vow.  Sometimes  they  have  their  vegetable  food 
served  up  in  an  animal  form,  so  that  a dish  comes  on 
the  table  in  the  form  of  a roast  fowl  or  baked  pig,  but 
on  carving,  it  is  found  to  consist  of  greens  and  gravy, 
with  a covering  of  vegetables  pressed  with  a coarse  tow- 
el, to  give  it  the  appearance  of  a veritable  animal.  They 
generally  wear  the  faces  of  well-fed  men,  though  some 
of  the  priests  in  China  are  the  most  abject  mendicants. 
They  may  make  their  own  garments,  but  are  not  al- 
lowed to  engage  in  remunerative  employments,  nor  to 
hold  offices  of  government. 

They  preach,  or  tell  stories,  at  funerals  and  festivals, 
both  at  the  temples  and  at  private  houses,  for  which  they 
receive  pay,  when  invited  to  perform  service  in  families. 
The  offerings  and  perquisites  of  temples  belong  in  com- 
mon to  the  priests  attached  to  that  temple,  and  there  they 
are  expected  to  recite  prayers  morning  and  evening.  They 
live  a life  of  celibacy,  and  sometimes,  perhaps,  a life  of 
chastity. 

Their  prayers  are  recited  from  books  originally  writ- 
ten in  Pali,  a dialect  of  the  Sanscrit,  which  has  been  em- 
ployed by  the  Budhists  since  the  days  of  Godama,  in  like 
manner  as  the  Sanscrit  has  been  used  by  the  Brahmins. 
The  Pali  language  is  written  in  different  characters  in 
different  countries.  In  China,  the  Chinese  character  is 
used;  in  Camboja,  Laos  and  Siam,  the  Cambojan  charac- 
ter is  used ; in  Burmah,  a different  character  is  employed, 
and  in  Ceylon  still  another  ; but  in  all,  the  language  and 
its  pronunciation  are  essentially  the  same.  Few  of  the 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


63 


priests  understand  more  than  the  sound  of  the  words, 
not  troubling  themselves  about  the  signification.  Their 
sacred  books  number  three  thousand  six  hundred  and 
eighty-three  volumes,  and  contain  eighty-four  thousand 
sections.  One  of  these  volumes  may  be  read  in  an  hour. 

During  the  lifetime  of  Godama,  Budhism  found  its 
way  into  many  of  the  central  countries  of  India,  and 
numbered  among  its  supporters  men  of  wealth  and  pow- 
er. About  two  hundred  years  after  his  death  it  was 
driven  by  Brahminical  persecution  to  seek  an  asylum 
in  the  island  of  Ceylon,  which  has  long  been  regarded  as 
its  stronghold  and  head  quarters.  It  is  now  the  prevail- 
ing religion  of  China,  Japan,  Annam,  Camboja,  Laos, 
Siam,  Burmah,  etc. 

In  Budhist  countries  the  veneration  for  an  image  is 
very  superstitious,  and  the  penalties  for  profaning  an  idol 
are  very  severe.  In  Siam,  for  example,  in  the  forty- 
eighth  section  of  their  civil  code  we  read,  that  “if  a thief 
steal  an  image  of  Budh  and  use  various  devices  for  get- 
ting off  its  ornaments,  as  washing,  smelting,  etc.,  let  him 
be  put  into  a furnace  and  treated  in  the  same  way  as  he 
treated  the  image,  and  thus  pay  for  his  wickedness,  and 
make  thorough  work  of  it. 

“ Section  49. — If  any  thief  strip  a Budhist  image  of  its 
gold  or  gilding,  let  him  be  taken  to  a public  square,  and 
a red-hot  iron  rubbed  over  him  till  he  is  stripped  of  his 
skin  as  he  stripped  the  image  of  its  gold,  and  thus  pay 
for  his  crime.  If  a thief  scratch  off  the  gold  from  a 
Budhist  image,  pagoda,  temple,  or  sacred  tree,  let  his  fin- 
gers be  cut  off. 

“ Section  52. — If  any  malicious  person  dig  into,  or  un- 


64 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


dermine  a Budhist  image,  a pagoda  or  temple,  he  is  lia- 
ble to  punishment  in  three  ways : First,  to  be  flogged 
sixty  lashes ; second,  to  have  his  fingers  cut  off ; third,  or 
to  be  killed.” 

The  above  extracts  are  taken  from  the  Siamese  code,  in 
fifty-five  volumes,  written  on  the  “ black  book,”  and  sold 
for  one  hundred  and  twenty  ticals  ($72).  The  work  is 
now  printed  in  two  volumes  at  the  mission  press  by  a 
Siamese  nobleman,  and  sold  for  twenty  ticals. 

Budhism  has  its  nunneries  and  its  nuns.  These  nuns 
shave  the  head,  and  have  under  their  instruction  novi- 
tiates of  their  sex,  as  the  priests  at  the  temples  have 
boys  under  their  training  for  office.  In  some  Budhist 
countries  these  temples  and  nunneries  are  the  only 
schools  and  colleges,  and  these  priests  are  the  only  teach- 
ers and  professors  in  the  land.  These  are  some  of  the 
striking  affinities  between  the  Budhist  and  Bomish 
churches — 'geographically  so  far  removed  from  each 
other. 

It  is  worthy  of  notice  that  in  a late  number  of  Harp- 
ers’ Weekly,  there  is  a record  from  a Paris  correspond- 
ent of  “ a curious  new  sect  of  Christians,  called  Trans- 
migrationists,  having  of  late  become  very  numerous  in 
France.  Their  creed  is  Christian,  only  they  include  all 
animals  in  their  idea  of  universal  morality.  They  pro- 
fess to  believe  that  being  changed  after  death  into  some 
animal  will  be  their  purgatory.  In  Germany  their  in- 
crease is  immense.” 

From  this  it  would  appear  that  Bomanism,  even  in 
the  countries  of  Europe,  is  engrafting  the  leading  senti- 
ment of  Budhism  upon  her  own  creed.  Having  bor- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


65 


rowed  spiritualism  and  table  turnings  from  China,  it 
would  seem  that  they  are  also  to  introduce  iuto  the 
western  world  the  mysteries  of  Budhism  from  that 
empire. 

Budhism  was  introduced  into  China  soon  after  the 
birth  of  our  Saviour.  It  is  a wonderful  fact  that  a record 
is  made  in  the  Chinese  Mirror,  or  History,  that  in  A.  D. 
50  the  emperor  Ming  saw  in  a dream  a golden  man  fly- 
ing about  his  palace,  which  dream  was  interpreted  by 
his  courtiers  to  mean  that  the  “holy  one”  was  to  be 
found  in  the  west.  This  so  interested  him  that  he  sent 
a deputation  to  India,  who  returned  with  some  priests 
and  images  of  Budh  from  Ceylon.  Had  the  messengers 
gone  a little  further  toward  the  west  they  might  have 
found  the  religion  of  the  Holy  One.  Instead  of  this 
they  introduced  into  China  a form  of  idolatry  which  is 
decried  by  the  learned,  laughed  at  by  the  profligate,  yet 
followed  by  all. 


The  third  class  in  China  are  called  the  Tauists,  or  the 
Rationalists  of  the  empire.  Tau  signifies  reason,  and  to 
this  sect  the  Rationalists  of  Germany  are  probably  in- 
debted for  their  creed.  The  founder  of  Tauism,  called 
Lautsz,  was  contemporary  with  Confucius,  with  whom  he 
had  some  personal  acquaintance.  He  was  born  in  the 
time  of  the  Chau  dynasty,  B.  C.  530,  and  lived  in  a re- 
tired place,  at  a distance  from  court,  in  the  dominions  of 
Prince  Tsi.  The  system  of  Tauism  is  sustained  by  ab- 
struse speculations  of  a mystic  philosophy,  which  fills  all 
nature  with  demons  and  genii,  who  constantly  influence 
the  fate  of  men.  They  furnish,  not  only  the  elements,  but 


66 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


also  all  the  forms  of  modern  spiritualism,  with  the  ac- 
companiments of  rappings  and  table-turnings.  In  China, 
may  be  seen  in  the  markets  and  public  places  mediums , 
who,  for  a consideration,  may  be  consulted  in  relation  to 
the  future  state,  and  departed  friends,  and  passing  events 
in  foreign  parts.  Modern  spiritualists  have  embraced  a 
creed  of  ancient  origin,  and  there  is  a fabulous  account,  on 
Chinese  record,  that  its  founder  not  only  lived  more  than 
five  hundred  years  before  Christ,  but  that  he  “ was  born 
Avith  a white  beard,  having  been  eighty  years  in  his  moth- 
er’s womb,  and  lived  to  be  eight  hundred  and  eight  years 
old ; and  the  last  that  was  seen  of  him,  he  was  going 
westward  riding  on  a blue  cow  !” 

Jews  in  China. — That  there  are  Jews  in  China  there  is 
no  question,  since  we  have  there  seen  them,  and  their 
synagogues,  but  concerning  the  time  when  they  first 
came  there  men  have  expressed  a variety  of  opinions. 
We  shall  not  attempt  to  prove  that  China  was  peopled 
by  the  immediate  descendants  of  ISToah,  though  that  may 
appear  probable ; nor  need  we  linger  upon  the  evidences 
that  some  companies  of  the  tribes  of  Israel  wandered  into 
that  region  after  their  dispersion  by  the  Assyrians,  B.  C. 
742,  as  recorded  in  2 Kings,  xvii.  6,  though  that  may  be 
possible,  and  accord  with  the  divine  threatenings — “ The 
Lord  shall  scatter  thee  among  all  nations,  from  one  end 
of  the  earth  to  the  other.”  It  is  well  ascertained  that 
there  were  Jews  in  China  as  early  as  258  B.  C.  They 
are  there  a peculiar  race,  and  distinguished  by  the  trait 
which  had  its  origin  in  Jacob’s  time.  The  children  of 
Israel  ate  not  of  the  sinew  which  shrank ; and  in  China 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


67 


they  call  themselves  Tiau-Mn-hiau , the  sect  which  plucks 
out  the  sinew.  Their  synagogues  are  met  in  different 
parts  of  the  empire,  hut  the  most  interesting  discoveries 
have  been  made  at  Kaifung-fu,  a city  in  the  province  of 
Honan,  in  a north-westerly  direction  from  Shanghae,  which 
was  reached  by  a journey  of  twenty-five  days  from  the  lat- 
ter place.  This  visit,  made  by  two  Chinese,  was  projected 
by  the  Bishop  of  Victoria,  and  resulted  in  learning  the 
location  of  a Jewish  synagogue,  with  a few  Jewish  fam- 
ilies in  great  poverty,  surrounded  by  a population  of  pa- 
gans and  Mohammedans,  and  near  to  a heathen  temple 
dedicated  to  the  god  of  fire. 

Here  they  had  lived  till  they  had  lost  their  own  his- 
tory, and  remained  as  the  solitary  witnesses  of  departed 
glory.  They  had  been  without  a rabbi  for  fifty  years, 
and  not  one  of  their  number  could  read  the  Hebrew 
books,  which  they  had  carefully  folded  in  their  numerous 
wrappings,  and  laid  away  in  the  synagogue,  while  they 
remained  the  unconscious  depositaries  of  the  word  of 
God.  The  rite  of  circumcision  is  still  continued  among 
them,  but  the  expectation  of  a Messiah  has  been  lost. 
Out  of  seventy  families,  or  clans,  on  record,  only  seven 
now  remain,  numbering  about  two  hundred  persons. 
The  deputation  copied  some  interesting  inscriptions  from 
their  synagogue,  some  in  Chinese,  and  others  in  Hebrew, 
and  brought  back  to  Shanghae  eight  MSS.  of  apparent 
antiquity,  containing  portions  of  the  Old  Testament 
Scriptures  written  in  antique  Hebrew  form,  which  are 
remarkable  for  their  agreement  with  the  received  text 
of  the  Hebrew  Bible.  This  Chinese  deputation  made  a 
second  visit  to  Kaifung-fu , when  they  procured  six  cop- 


68 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ies  of  the  five  books  of  Moses,  each  written  on  white 
sheepskin,  cut  and  sewed  together,  about  twenty  yards 
long,  and  rolled  on  sticks.  They  are  beautifully  written, 
without  vowel  points  or  marks  for  division.  The  depu- 
tation brought  back  with  them  also  two  of  the  Jews’  de- 
scendants, one  about  thirty  and  the  other  forty-five  years 
of  age,  who  came  to  Shanghae  to  learn  to  read  Hebrew, 
for  which  they  express  a strong  desire.  Their  features 
show  marks  of  Hebrew  descent,  but  they  dress  in 
Chinese  costume,  and  speak  only  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage. 

They  keep  the  Jewish  Sabbath  and  worship  on  the 
seventh  day  of  the  week.  The  following  extract  is  taken 
from  a tablet  erected  in  their  synagogue  in  the  seventh 
year  of  the  Ming  dynasty,  A.  D.  1511. 

“ Moses  established  the  law,  and  handed  down  the 
sacred  writings.  After  his  time,  during  the  Han  dynasty 
(fromB.  C.  200  to  A.  D.  226),  this  religion  entered  China. 
All  those  who  profess  this  religion  aim  at  the  practice  of 
goodness,  and  avoid  the  commission  of  vice ; morning 
and  evening  performing  their  devotions,  and  with  a sin- 
cere mind  cultivate  personal  virtues.  They  practice  absti- 
nence and  fasting  on  the  prescribed  days,  and  bring  eating 
and  drinking  under  proper  regulations.  They  make  the 
sacred  writings  their  study  and  their  rule,  obeying  and 
believing  them  in  every  particular.  Thus  may  they  ex- 
pect that  the  blessing  of  Heaven  will  be  abundantly  given 
and  the  favor  of  Providence  be  unfailingly  conferred. 

“We  have  engraved  this  on  a tablet,  placed  in  the 
synagogue,  to  be  handed  down  to  distant  ages,  that  fu- 
ture generations  may  carefully  consider  it.  This  tablet 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


69 


was  erected  in  the  seventh  year  of  Ching-tih,  of  the 
Ming  dynasty.”  (A.  D.  1511.) 

The  Jews  are  dispersed  over  the  provinces  of  China, 
and  everywhere  held  in  disrepute  by  the  people,  verify- 
ing the  divine  prediction  concerning  them,  as  a “ nation 
scattered  and  peeled,  and  a people  meted  out  and  trodden 
under  foot.” 


Mohammedans  in  China. 

Mohammedanism  was  first  promulgated  in  604  A.  D., 
as  its  author  states,  by  the  revelations  of  the  angel  Gabriel, 
who  appeared  to  him  in  a cave  near  his  native  place,  the 
city  of  Mecca.  From  this  birth-place  of  the  false  prophet 
and  his  fabulous  creed,  it  worked  its  way  through  India, 
the  Malayan  peninsula,  Sumatra,  Java,  Borneo,  and  found 
a resting-place  in  China  more  than  a thousand  years  ago. 
There  its  votaries,  with  their  faces  turned  towards  Mecca, 
make  their  daily  prostrations  at  the  rising  and  setting 
sun,  regardless  of  the  place  or  the  people  around,  while 
the  Chinese,  who  tolerate  all  sorts  of  folly  in  the  name 
of  religion,  regard  them  first  with  an  air  of  indifference, 
which  soon  grows  into  feelings  of  contempt. 

There  are  Mohammedan  mosques  at  Canton,  Hong 
Kong,  Ningpo,  and  in  most  of  the  large  cities,  as  well 
as  at  Peking.  They  seem  to  make  little  effort  to  pros- 
elyte, from  a general  belief  that  a man  isf  ated  to  die  in 
the  faith  in  which  he  was  born.  They  dress  in  Chinese 
costume,  and  speak  the  Chinese  language,  but  make  the 
Koran  the  rule  of  faith  and  the  guide  of  their  lives. 
In  1841  there  was  found  at  Amoy  the  Koran,  in  Arabic, 
with  a Chinese  translation. 


70 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  question  naturally  arises,  what  has  been  the  re- 
sult of  these  various  systems  of  religion  upon  the  moral 
character  and  present  happiness  of  the  people?  The 
answer  is  found  in  the  growing  immoralities  of  the  Chi- 
nese, that  these  creeds  have  no  reformatory  power,  but 
they  leave  their  devotees  no  better  than  they  found 
them. 

Among  the  various  forms  of  worship  embraced  by  the 
millions  of  China,  or  in  the  numerous  religious  creeds 
adopted  in  every  other  country,  there  is  nothing  but 
Christianity  which  restrains  from  vice,  and  prompts  to 
virtue.  There  was  never  found  a pure  morality,  except 
in  connection  with  a pure  Christianity.  The  atheistic 


teachings  of  Confucius,  which  ignore  the  doctrine  of  the 
immortality  of  the  soul  and  the  eternity  of  Jehovah, 
leave  the  heart  of  man  uncleansed,  and  the  sin  of  the 


world  uncancelcd.-  The  superstitious  dogmas  of  Bud- 
hism,  which  profess  to  moralize  the  whole  animal  king- 
dom, leave  its  votaries  without  God  in  the  world,  and 
lead  to  an  extinction  of  all  being  hereafter.  The  mystic 
speculations  of  the  Tauist  end  in  table-turnings,  the  doc- 
trines of  devils  and  deeds  of  darkness.  The  morals  of 
Mohammedanism  are  demonstrated  by  fire  and  sword, 
piracy  and  plunder; — and  even  the  mutilated  form  of 
Christianity  presented  in  Roman  Catholicism  fails  to 
curb  the  passions  or  control  the  lives  of  its  disciples. 
It  is  left  for  the  simple  teachings  of  Jesus  Christ  alone, 
to  remove  the  curse  of  sin,  to  cure  the  world  of  sorrow, 
and  fit  mankind  for  happiness  and  heaven. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


71 


CHAPTER  VII. 

CHRISTIANITY. 

Christianity  was  introduced  into  China  at  an  early- 
period.  The  Syrian  chnrch  say  that  St.  Thomas  preached 
the  gospel  in  China,  and  the  primate  of  the  Malabar 
Christians  styled  himself  the  “ Metropolitan  of  India 
and  China.”  Others  suppose  that  some  who  listened  to 
the  Saviour’s  instructions,  and  were  eye-witnesses  of  his 
resurrection,  preached  this  doctrine  in  the  far  East,  while 
Peter  and  Paul  were  employed  in  its  publication  in  places 
west  of  the  land  of  Judea.  The  monks  who  carried  the 
silk-worm  from  China  A.  D.  552,  were  Persians,  and  prob- 
ably were  missionaries  of  the  ISTestorian  church.  The 
Syrian  monument  found  at  Singanfu,  in  the  province 
of  Shensi,  contains  proofs  of  the  early  introduction 
of  the  Nestorians  into  China.  This  monument  is  a 
marble  tablet  ten  feet  long  and  six  feet  broad,  having 
on  the  upper  part  a large  cross  engraved,  and  beneath,  a 
long  discourse  in  Chinese,  with  numerous  names  in  Syr- 
iac on  the  sides,  and  a Syriac  inscription  at  the  foot. 
After  some  remarks  on  the  principles  of  religion,  the 
fall  of  man,  the  birth  of  the  Messiah  in  Judea,  together 
with  some  of  the  laws  and  ceremonies  of  Christianity, 
the  author  gives  a sketch  of  its  introduction  and  prog- 
ress in  China. 

“ In  A.  D.  635,  during  the  reign  of  the  second  emperor 
of  the  Tang  dynasty,  Olopun,  after  a long  journey, 
arrived  at  the  capital,  and  was  received  with  honor 


72 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


by  the  emperor.  With  self-denying  zeal  he  came  on 
his  difficult  and  dangerous  journey.  In  the  ninth 
year  of  the  emperor  he  reached  the  city,  and  was  con- 
ducted to  the  palace.  The  emperor  found  that  Olopun 
was  thoroughly  acquainted  with  truth  and  upright- 
ness, and  gave  him  a special  command  to  make  it 
widely  known.  Under  the  reign  of  Taitsung  and  his 
successors,  Olopun  and  his  fellow-laborers  were  pros- 
pered in  their  work.  Under  Kautsung,  A.  D.  678,  the 
illustrious  religion  spread  itself  in  every  direction,  and 
temples  rose  in  a hundred  cities.”  The  Arabian  voy- 
agers who  visited  China  in  the  ninth  century,  speak  of 
the  Nestorian  Christians,  and  of  the  persecutions  they 
suffered  A.  D.  877.  Marco  Polo  often  alludes  to  the 
Nestorian  Christians  in  his  travels  in  China,  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  show  that  they  were  numerous  and  long 
established  in  the  country. 

The  Roman  Catholic  missions  in  China  have  had  three 
distinct  epochs.  1.  In  the  thirteenth  century.  2.  In  the 
seventeenth.  3.  In  the  eighteenth. 

When  Marco  Polo  traveled  in  China,  A.  D.  1280,  he 
met  there  no  Christians  but  those  of  the  Nestorian  creed. 
Soon  after,  the  Franciscan  monks  both  begged  and 
preached. 

Among  the  latter  was  John  Corvino.  He  was  born 
in  Apulia,  1247,  and  sent  by  the  pope  to  Tartary  in 
1288.  He  reached  India  in  1291,  where  he  remained  a 
year  and  enrolled  about  one  hundred  converts,  then  pro- 
ceeded to  China,  where  he  was  kindly  received  by  the  I 
emperor  Kublai  Khan.  He  met  some  opposition  from! 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


73 


the  Nestorians,  and  after  eleven  years  of  lonely  toil  he 
was  joined  by  associates.  Yet  so  successful  were  his 
labors  that  by  the  year  1305  he  had  numbered  six 
thousand  converts  to  his  creed,  and  had  purchased  one 
hundred  and  fifty  children,  whom  he  had  christened  and 
instructed  in  Latin  and  Greek,  and  taught  to  sing  the 
service  of  the  church.  He  confined  his  labors  chiefly  to 
the  Tartars,  into  whose  language  he  translated  the  New 
Testament  and  the  Psalms.  In  this  his  course  differed 
widely  from  that  of  Eoman  Catholic  missionaries  of 
modern  times.  So  far  from  attaching  importance  to  the 
translation  of  the  Scriptures,  they  ridicule  the  Protest- 
ants for  the  pains  they  take  in  giving  the  translated  word 
to  the  pagans,  and  declare  it  a work  “evidently  contrary 
to  the  principles  of  Christianity.” — Annales  de  la  Prop- 
agation de  la  Foi,  1828,  p.  48. 

In  1307  Pope  Clement  V.  constituted  John  archbishop 
of  Peking,  and  sent  seven  suffragan  bishops  to  labor 
with  him.  These  were  all  Franciscans,  and  spread  them- 
selves over  the  northern  provinces,  where  they  labored 
with  diligence  and  success.  Corvino  died  in  1330  A.  D. 
Just  before  his  death  he  writes,  “it  is  now  twelve  years 
since  I have  heard  any  news  from  the  West.  I am  be- 
come old  and  gray -headed,  but  it  is  rather  through  labors 
and  tribulations  than  through  age  ; for  I am  only  fifty- 
eight  years  old.  I have  learned  the  Tartar  language  and 
literature,  into  which  I have  translated  the  whole  New 
Testament  and  the  Psalms  of  David,  and  have  caused 
them  to  be  transcribed  with  the  utmost  care.  I write, 
and  read,  and  preach  openly  and  freely  the  testimony  of 
the  law  of  Christ.”  Nicholas  de  Bentra  was  constituted 


4 


74 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


archbishop  in  1336,  to  whose  assistance  the  pope  sent 
twenty-six  additional  laborers ; bnt  of  their  success  we 
have  no  account.  The  Ming  dynasty  came  into  power 
in  1369j  and  being  hostile  to  all  foreigners  prohibited 
missionary  work.  Consequently,  the  Catholics  as  well 
as  the  Nestorians  lost  ground. 

The  second  epoch  of  Roman  Catholic  missions  in  China 
was  in  connection  with  the  Jesuits.  In  1541,  and  the 
next  year  after  the  origin  of  their  order,  Francis  Xayier 
went  to  the  East.  In  1552  he  left  Goa,  touched  at  Ma- 
lacca, visited  Japan,  and  before  the  close  of  the  year  he 
ended  his  labors  at  San-Shan,  a small  island  about  thirty 
miles  south  of  Macao.  He  saw  the  land  of  China,  and 
longed  to  go  in,  but  was  not  allowed  to  enter  it.  Ricci, 
of  the  Jesuit  order,  an  Italian  by  birth,  and  a man 
of  great  attainments,  reached  Macao  in  1581,  being  then 
fifty  years  old.  Being  a man  of  great  energy,  of  rare 
attainments,  and  graceful  manners,  he  at  length  gained 
access  to  the  emperor  at  Peking,  in  1601. 

The  acquirements,  the  manners,  and  perhaps  more 
than  all,  the  large  presents  sent  by  Ricci  to  the  court  of 
Peking,  rendered  him  popular,  and  gained  for  him  the 
favor  and  support  of  some  men  of  influence  and  au- 
thority. One  of  his  associates  was  employed  by  govern- 
ment in  correcting  the  calendar,  another  in  finding  the  lati- 
tude of  the  chief  cities,  while  others  were  scattered  over  the 
provinces,  and  were  successful  in  gaining  proselytes  and 
preparing  books  on  various  scientific  and  religious  sub- 
jects, so  that,  in  1636,  they  report  as  published  no  less  than 
three  hundred  treatises.  Soon  dissensions  arose  between 
the  Franciscans  and  Jesuits,  which  called  down  upon 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


75 


them  the  frowns  and  floggings  of  the  government.  One 
Jesuit,  Martinez,  was  so  severely  beaten  at  Canton  that 
he  expired  under  the  bastinado.  Ricci  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty,  in  1610,  and  was  buried  with  great  pomp.  They 
afterward  were  persecuted  and  charged  with  bringing 
confusion  among  the  people,  and  in  1621,  by  an  imperial 
edict,  were  commanded  to  leave  the  empire.  Siu,  a Chi- 
nese of  rank  and  influence,  had  been  numbered  amono; 
the  converts,  and  at  his  reception  took  the  name  of  Paul. 
He  and  his  daughter  were  among  their  most  influential 
supporters,  and  by  his  agency  the  edict  for  expulsion 
was  reversed.  In  1628  a German  Jesuit,  John  Adam 
Schaal,  arrived,  and  being  a man  of  superior  talent  and 
learning,  was  placed  at  the  head  of  his  order. 

In  1631,  the  Dominicans  and  Franciscans  sent  to 
China  a company  of  missionaries,  but  the  next  year  Siu 
died,  and  the  country  was  now  harassed  by  the  Tartars, 
who  took  possession  of  the  throne  in  1644,  and  the  mis- 
sionaries were  dispersed,  and  the  churches  suffered  in 
consequence  of  these  political  disturbances.  In  1662,  the 
young  Kanghi  succeeded  to  the  throne  at  the  age  of  eight 
years,  when  he  was  placed  under  the  tuition  of  the  Ger- 
man Jesuit  Schaal.  The  regents,  however,  soon  threw 
the  tutor  and  his  colleagues  into  prison,  and  condemned 
them  to  death,  but  the  old  tutor  died  in  prison  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight  years.  In  1669,  Kanghi  dispensed 
with  the  regents  and  took  the  supreme  control.  He  sent 
for  Verbiest  and  his  Jesuit  colleagues,  and  proposed  sun- 
dry questions  in  astronomy,  which  were  answered  cor- 
rectly, while  the  Chinese  astronomers  were  obliged  to 
plead  ignorance.  The  emperor  commanded  Yerbiest  to 


76 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


examine  the  calendar  for  the  year,  which  the  Chinese  as- 
tronomers  had  already  published  with  great  ceremony, 
but  which  proved  in  many  points  to  be  incorrect.  They 
were  forthwith  loaded  with  chains,  while  the  Jesuits  were 
set  at  liberty,  and  Yerbiest,  their  leader,  was  appointed 
president  of  the  astronomical  tribunal.  He  struck  out 
of  the  calendar  their  thirteenth,  or  intercalary  month, 
which  induced  the  old  council  to  send  him  a petition  to 
spare  their  reputation  by  retaining  it  in  some  way.  The 
laconic  answer  was,  “ It  is  not  in  my  power  to  make  the 
heavens  agree  with  your  calendar.  The  useless  month 
must  be  taken  out.”  This  was  a signal  triumph  over  his 
persecutors,  and  the  missionaries  were  received  into  the 
royal  favor,  while  they  rendered  important  service  to 
the  government,  not  only  by  correcting  the  calendar  for 
scholars,  but  by  casting  cannon  for  the  soldiers  of  the 
empire.  In  1636,  Schaal  cast  cannon  for  the  emperor 
Yungching,  and  Yerbiest  once  and  again  rendered  a sim- 
ilar service  for  Kanghi.  It  is  written  that  at  one  time  he 
cast  one  hundred  and  thirty  pieces  of  cannon,  and  in  1681 
he  cast  three  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  more  which  he 
blessed  in  a solemn  manner,  giving  the  name  of  some  saint 
to  each  piece  of  cannon.  Thus  we  might  hear  the  name 
of  St.  Peter  or  St.  Paul  perverted  from  the  messengers 
of  peace  to  the  implements  of  war,  and  witness  the  strange 
paradox  of  seeing  the  same  names  originally  given  to  the 
harbingers  of  salvation  to  the  world,  used  to  designate  a 
thundering  cannon  employed  for  wholesale  destruction. 

Then  Eoman  priests  were  also  enlisted  largely  in  the 
political  affairs  of  the  country,  and  held  offices  under 
government.  In  the  apparent  growth  of  their  power 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


77 


was  found  their  weakness  and  waning  influence.  At 
'that  time  the  Jesuits  were  zealously  supported  by  Louis 
XIV.  and  his  able  ministers,  who  carefully  selected  and 
generously  supplied  the  ablest  men  for  China,  and  on 
reaching  the  country  they  were  welcomed  and  warmly 
assisted  by  the  best  monarch  that  ever  sat  on  the  Chinese 
throne,  in  their  endeavors  to  extend  the  dominions  of 
the  pope.  In  those  palmy  days  of  Romanism,  they  num- 
bered, in  the  single  province  of  Nanking,  one  hundred 
churches,  and  one  hundred  thousand  converts.  About 
this  time,  between  the  years  of  1708  and  1718,  the  geo- 
graphical survey  of  the  empire  was  made  by  the  Jesuits 
— a boon  to  China  and  the  rest  of  the  world. 

But  while  thus  enjoying  an  unwonted  measure  of  suc- 
cess, and  exulting  in  their  prospects,  they  felt  a serious 
reverse,  caused  not  by  a foreign  foe,  but  by  domestic 
discord.  The  Romanists  did  then,  as  they  do  now,  boast 
of  the  oneness  of  their  church,  and  exult  over  the  divisions 
among  Protestants.  While  we  lament  the  uncourteous 
controversies  which  too  often  arise  amidst  the  Protestant 
ranks,  we  find  nothing  so  fierce  and  full  of  bitterness  as 
the  denunciations  between  the  Jesuits,  Dominicans  and 
Franciscans  in  China.  To  this  domestic  strife,  more  than 
to  any  or  all  other  things  together,  is  to  be  credited  their 
overthrow  in  China.  It  would  be  well  if  Protestants, 
from  this  sad  example,  might  take  timely  warning.  As 
an  example  of  their  controversy,  we  copy  a single  ex- 
tract from  a Roman  Catholic  writer,  in  giving  the  charac- 
ter of  Ricci,  the  founder  of  their  mission  in  China. 

“ This  Jesuit  was  active,  skillful,  full  of  schemes,  and 
endowed  with  all  the  talents  necessary  to  render  him 


78 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


agreeable  to  the  great,  or  to  gain  the  favor  of  princes ; 
but  at  the  same  time  so  little  versed  in  matters  of  faith 
that  it  was  sufficient  only  to  read  his  work  on  the  True 
Religion  to  be  satisfied  that  he  was  ignorant  of  the  first 
principles  of  theology.  Being  more  a politician  than  a 
theologian,  he  found  in  that  the  secret  of  his  remaining 
peacefully  in  China.  The  king  found  in  him  a man  full 
of  complaisance ; the  pagans,  a minister  who  accommo- 
dated himself  to  their  superstitions ; and  the  devil  a 
faithful  servant,  who,  far  from  destroying,  established 
his  reign  among  the  heathen,  and  even  extended  it  to 
the  Christians.  He  preached  in  China  the  religion  of 
Christ  according  to  his -own  fancy;  that  is  to  say,  he  dis- 
figured it  by  a faithful  mixture  of  pagan  superstitions, 
adopting  the  sacrifices  offered  to  Confucius  and  ancestors, 
and  teaching  the  Christians  to  assist  and  cooperate  in  the 
worship  of  idols,  provided  they  only  addressed  their  de- 
votions to  a cross  covered  with  flowers,  or  secretly  at- 
tached it  to  one  of  the  candles  which  were  lighted  in  the 
temples  of  their  false  gods.” — Anecdotes  de  la  Chine,  tom. 
i.,  pref.,  pp.  vi.  vii. 

The  policy  of  Ricci  and  his  Jesuit  associates  gave 
some  cause  for  the  above  charges,  but  no  authority  for 
the  spirit  which  dictated  them.  He  esteemed  the  hon- 
ors paid  to  Confucius,  and  to  deceased  ancestors,  as  civil 
ceremonies ; and  finding  it  to  serve  their  purpose,  they 
adopted  the  term  Thien  (heaven)  to  express  the  name  of 
God,  to  which  the  Chinese  made  no  objections,  since  it 
conveyed  to  them  an  idea  of  the  visible  heavens,  or  some 
thought  connected  with  their  own  superstitious  worship. 
Their  accommodations  to  heathen  prejudices,  together  with 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


79 


their  imposing  ceremonies,  rendered  still  more  gorgeous 
by  extra  trappings,  and  a conformity  to  usages  among  the 
Chinese,  rendered  them  popular,  and  apparently  prosper- 
ous. But  the  jealousies  awakened  in  the  minds  of  the 
Franciscans  and  Dominicans  led  to  contentions  which 
resulted  in  their  overthrow.  They  have  since  revived, 
and  at  different  times  enjoyed  various  measures  of  suc- 
cess in  numbering  converts  to  their  creed ; but  Roman- 
ism in  China  is  little  more  than  a sort  of  half-baptized 
paganism,  which  exchanges  the  worship  of  Mary  for 
Matso-po,  or  the  mother  of  God  for  the  goddess  of 
mercy,  and  allows  them  to  employ  all  their  superstitious 
sayings,  with  their  pagan  significancy,  provided  they  are 
arranged  in  the  form  of  a cross.  Thus,  on  a New  Year 
or  festival  occasion,  when  it  is  customary  to  write  heathen 
mottoes  and  paste  them  over  their  doorways,  the  traveler 
may  recognize  a Roman  Catholic  house  by  seeing  their 
mottoes  written  in  the  same  Chinese  characters,  and  with 
the  same  pagan  significancy,  but  arranged  in  the  form  of 
this  symbol  of  Christianity. 

Kanghi,  the  greatest  emperor  of  China,  and  a great 
friend  of  the  Jesuits,  died  December  20th,  1723,  and 
the  next  year,  under  the  reign  of  Yungching,  remon- 
strances being  made  against  the  privileges  granted  to  the 
foreign  teachers,  they  were  banished  to  Macao,  except 
those  required  at  Peking  for  the  use  of  the  emperor,  and 
all  were  strictly  prohibited  from  propagating  their  reli- 
gion. Thus  more  than  three  hundred  churches  were  de- 
stroyed and  more  than  three  hundred  thousand  converts 
were  left  without  pastors.  Kienlung  came  to  the  impe- 
rial throne  in  1736,  but  his  long  and  prosperous  reign 


80 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


brought  no  relief  to  the  banished  Romish  teachers.  From 
that  time  to  the  recent  opening  for  the  introduction  of 
Christianity,  the  Catholics  have  existed  there,  and  some 
of  these  foreign  teachers  have,  by  stealth,  traveled  and 
lived  with  their  converts  in  the  country ; speaking  the 
language  and  wearing  the  costume  of  the  Chinese.  We 
have  met  their  disciples  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
but  have  not  been  fortunate  to  meet  such  as  gave  evidence 
of  having  been  made  more  truthful,  or  honest,  or  pure, 
by  becoming  Roman  Catholics,  or,  as  they  are  called,  dis- 
ciples of  Tien  Chu  (heaven’s  Lord). 

Their  teachers  could  translate  for  them  the  writings 
of  Thomas  Aquinas,  but  found  weighty  reasons  for  not 
translating  the  Bible.  In  their  catechism  they  translate 
the  Decalogue,  by  leaving  out  the  second  command, 
changing  the  fourth  to  read,  “ Keep  holy  the  festivals,” 
and  splitting  the  tenth  to  make  out  the  number.  They 
say  mass  in  Latin,  for  the  same  reason  that  some  modern 
ministers  preach  in  a style  above  the  comprehension  of 
the  common  people. 

Since  the  close  of  the  war  in  1842,  Christianity  has 
been  tolerated  in  China,  and  the  Catholics  have  been  re- 
prieved from  their  former  proscription.  The  following 
extract  from  a proclamation  of  Kiying,  imperial  com- 
missioner and  governor  general  of  the  two  Kwangs,  bears 
date  Taukwang,  25th  year,  10th  month,  3d  day,  or  No- 
vember 2d,  1845 : 

“ Already  have  I,  the  imperial  commissioner,  memo- 
rialized the  throne,  and  received  the  vermilion  reply  ac- 
ceding to  my  request ; on  the  receipt  of  which',  I,  the 
imperial  commissioner,  respectfully  recorded  it,  and  sent 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


81 


a communication  to  the  various  officers  under  my  con- 
trol, that  they  might  all  reverently  comply,  as  is  on 
record.  Now  it  appears  to  me  that  the  religion  of  the 
Lord  of  heaven  mainly  consists  in  exhorting  to  virtue 
and  departing  from  vice,  and  thus  those  who  profess  this 
religion  should  make  this  their  main  concern  ; but  on 
the  former  occasion  we  have  not  been  sufficiently  explicit, 
and  it  is  to  be  feared  that  obstructions  would  arise  in  the 
management  of  the  affair  throughout  the  various  prov- 
inces, and  therefore  we  now  explain  that  the  religion  of 
the  Lord  of  heaven  consists  in  periodically  assembling 
for  unitedly  worshiping  the  Lord  of  heaven,  in  respect- 
ing and  venerating  the  cross,  with  pictures  and  images, 
as  well  as  in  reading  aloud  the  works  of  said  religion. 
These  are  customs  of  the  said  religion,  and  practices 
not  in  accordance  with  these  can  not  be  considered  as 
the  religion  of  the  Lord  of  heaven.  Since  now  it  has 
been  granted  to  exempt  the  adherents  of  this  religion 
from  punishment,  all  those  who  assemble  for  unitedly 
worshiping  the  Lord  of  heaven,  for  respecting  and  ven- 
erating the  cross,  with  pictures  and  images,  for  reciting 
the  books  of  the  said  religion,  and  for  explaining  their 
doctrines  and  exhorting  to  virtue,  these  are  professing 
said  religion  and  practicing  virtue,  and  must  not  be  pro- 
hibited or  hindered,  and  wherever  people  set  up  places 
for  venerating  and  honoring  the  Lord  of  heaven,  they 
may  in  this  respect  follow  their  own  convenience.  But 
it  is  not  allowable  for  them  to  collect  together  people 
from  distant  villages,  thus  forming  themselves  into  bands 
and  exciting  each  other  to  evil,  all  which  practices  are  in 
contravention  of  the  laws  of  China.  Should  any  lawless 

4* 


82 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


fellow  take  advantage  of  the  religion  of  heaven’s  Lord 
"being  recently  exempted  from  punishment,  by  a gracious 
decree  of  the  emperor,  think  of  treading  in  their  former 
muddy  footsteps,  and  speculate  upon  escaping  with  im- 
punity, they  will  all  be  brought  under  the  category  of 
borrowing  pretexts  from  religious  scruples,  with  the  view 
of  practicing  wickedness,  and  be  punished  for  their  of- 
fenses according  to  the  originally  existing  laws.  "VVe 
hereby  enjoin  upon  all  our  subordinates  that  they  thor- 
oughly examine  and  act  accordingly.  Do  not  disobey.” 

The  Roman  priests,  since  their  expulsion  in  1724,  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  visiting  their  scattered  flocks  in  the 
interior,  though  they  suffered  imprisonment  or  death  if 
detected.  During  the  last  hundred  years  they  have  la- 
bored in  several  of  the  provinces  of  the  empire.  The 
mission  in  the  provinces  of  Shansi,  Shensi  and  Kansuh, 
has  been  under  the  care  of  Italians,  of  the  order  of 
Lazarites.  That  in  the  provinces  of  Fukien,  Chekiang 
and  Kiangsl,  has  been  conducted  by  Spanish  Dominicans 
of  Manila.  That  of  Sz'chuen  has  been  conducted  by 
Frenchmen.  This  last  mission  includes  also  the  provinces 
of  Yunnan  and  Kweiehau,  and  is  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  seminary  for  foreign  missions  in  Paris.  The 
mission  was  commenced  in  1702,  and  its  teachers  and 
converts  suffered  repeatedly  from  cruel  persecutions.  In 
1785  a royal  edict  sent  many  out  of  the  country,  and 
among  the  number  was  M.  Dufresse,  who  left  with  a 
heavy  heart  and  the  lamentation  on  his  lips,  “ Alas ! 
China  is  now  deprived  of  its  missionaries.  How  many 
infants  must  die  without  baptism,  and  adults  without 
the  sacraments !”  It  is  to  be  feared  that  they  attached 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


83 


an  importance  to  baptism  and  the  sacraments  which 
should  have  been  given  to  the  Bible  idea  of  regeneration 
and  purity  of  life.  Had  they  thought  more  of  heart  ref- 
ormation and  a holy  life,  and  attached  less  importance 
to  the  outward  forms  and  the  sacraments  of  the  church, 
they  had  not,  after  a hundred  years  of  self-denial  and 
suffering  service,  left  China  an  unbroken  field  of  pagan- 
ism. They  built  churches,  baptized  children,  and  made 
multitudes  of  nominal  disciples,  but  with  the  Bible  un- 
translated and  the  moral  character  of  the  heathen  un- 
changed, it  wras  left  for  Protestant  Christians  to  give  to 
the  millions  of  China  the  translated  Word  of  God,  and 
from  it  to  plant  the  seeds  of  personal  purity,  domestic 
happiness  and  Christian  institutions.  The  Bible ! that 
matchless  volume  of  excellent  wisdom,  learning  and  law, 
given  by  the  God  of  all  for  the  benefit  of  all ; and  with- 
out a knowledge  of  it  there  is  salvation  for  none.  Let  it 
then  be  given  to  the  millions  of  China. 

In  this  enterprise  the  Rev.  Joshua  Marshman,  of  the 
English  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  though  a resident  of 
Serampore,  was  first  engaged  in  translating  the  Scrip- 
tures into  the  language  of  that  vast  empire,  but  the  pio- 
neer of  the  work  in  China  was  the  Rev.  Robert  Morrison, 
a representative  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  who 
commenced  his  labors  in  Canton  in  1807.  Daring  a 
service  of  twenty-seven  years,  with  the  help  of  his  col- 
leagues, he  translated  into  Chinese  the  entire  sacred 
Scriptures,  and  translated  into  English  the  celebrated 
Chinese  Dictionary  of  Kanghi,  prepared  and  printed 
Christian  tracts,  established  schools,  and  privately  taught 
the  people,  beside  serving  as  interpreter  in  the  com- 


84 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


mercial  and  diplomatic  intercourse  between  western 
nations  and  the  Chinese.  At  first  he  urged  his  way 
into  China  through  difficulties,  commenced  his  work  in 
disguise,  took  his  walks  by  moonlight,  and  by  patient 
toil  and  the  grace  of  God  wrought  wonders.  He  stood 
alone  and  looked  upon  the  mass  of  humanity  around 
him,  as  corrupt  as  it  was  extensive,  but  he  staggered  not 
at  the  promise  of  God  which  gave  to  Christ  the  heathen 
for  his  inheritance,  and  he  rested  upon  the  divinity  of 
that  plan  which  made  the  gospel  the  means  of  effecting 
it.  He  lived  to  see  the  work  begun,  the  corner  stone  of 
the  superstructure  laid,  and  to  witness  here  the  budding 
results  of  his  labors,  while  he  looks  now  upon  their  ripen- 
ing fruits  from  his  more  commanding  stand-point  above. 
In  1813  he  was  joined  by  Eev.  William  Milne,  of  the 
same  society,  and  of  a similar  spirit,  in  whom  he  found 
an  agreeable  companion  and  a worthy  colleague.  He 
made  a translation  into  English  of  the  Chinese  sacred 
Edict,  and  he  translated  several  books  of  the  sacred 
Scriptures  into  Chinese.  In  the  version  by  Dr.  Morrison 
the  books  of  Exodus,  the  Psalms,  Deuteronomy,  Joshua, 
Judges,  Euth.  and  others  were  translated  by  Dr.  Milne, 
while  each  revised  the  translations  of  the  other.  His 
work  was  ended  after  nine  years  of  faithful  and  success- 
ful service.  He  was  followed  by  Eev.  W.  H.  Medhurst, 
who  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty,  and  spent  forty  years  of 
efficient  labor  in  the  China  mission. 

Of  these  men,  Morrison  lived  at  Macao  with  his  family, 
but  labored  much  at  Canton,  where,  in  Chinese  costume, 
he  commenced  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  and 
during  many  a weary  hour  bent  over  the  midnight  oil 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


85 


as  it  burned  in  a common  Chinese  lamp  shaded  only  by 
a volume  of  Henry’s  Commentaries.  He  afterwards 
changed  his  views  as  to  the  policy  of  adopting  the 
Chinese  dress  and  habits,  but  never  lost  his  ardor  for  the 
high  work  in  which  he  had  enlisted,  nor  relaxed  his 
labors  for  its  accomplishment.  While,  during  the  last 
few  years  of  his  life,  holding  the  office  of  Chinese  secre- 
tary and  interpreter  for  the  British  Government,  he  ac- 
cepted and  occupied  the  position  as  subservient  to  his 
first  great  work  of  evangelizing  the  heathen.  In  his 
official  work  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son,  the  Hon.  J. 
Ik  Morrison,  who  therein  rendered  important  service  to 
his  country  and  to  the  mission  till  the  time  of  his  death 
in  1843.  In  his  missionary  enterprise,  Morrison  is  still 
represented  by  his  daughter,  the  wife  of  an  honored 
medical  missionary  to  the  Chinese.  Milne  was  located 
at  Malacca,  where  in  addition  to  his  part  in  the  translation 
and  printing  of  the  Scriptures  in  Chinese,  he  rendered  im- 
portant service  in  the  Anglo-Chinese  college,  and  the 
distribution  of  tracts  and  in  preaching  the  gospel.  He 
was  also  for  many  years  represented  by  his  son,  an  active 
missionary  in  China,  who  after  learning  the  language 
and  rendering  much  important  service,  was  compelled 
by  failing  health  to  retire  from  the  field. 

Medhurst  resided  chiefly  at  Batavia  till  1843,  when 
he  removed  his  family  to  Hong  Kong,  and  soon  settled 
at  Shanghae,  which  was  the  field  of  his  labor  for  the 
rest  of  his  life.  One  of  his  daughters  was  married  to  a 
missionary,  and  his  son  has  held  important  appointments 
as  interpreter  and  consul  in  China,  under  the  British 
Government. 


86 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Samuel  Dyer,  another  worthy  representative  of  the 
London  Missionary,  was  sent  to  the  China  mission  1827, 
and  performed  much,  excellent  service  in  translating, 
preaching,  type-making,  and  shedding  a liallowed  in- 
fluence for  years  on  all  around ; and  after  residing  at 
Penang,  Malacca,  and  Singapore,  died  at  Macao  in 
1843,  leaving  two  of  his  daughters  as  a legacy  to 
the  mission,  who  became  wives  of  missionaries  to  the 
Chinese.  These  prominent  men,  representing  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  which  set  a noble  example  in 
leading  the  way,  and  which  has  generously  sustained  the 
Chinese  mission  since  1807,  have  had  associated  with 
them  from  the  same  society,  Slater,  Ince,  Milton,  Flem- 
ing, Humphreys,  Kidd,  Tomlin,  Evans,  Davies,  Wolfe 
and  others,  besides  a company  of  worthies  who  survive 
and  are  zealously  laboring  to  carry  forward  the  work  so 
nobly  begun.  Among  the  names  above  mentioned  that 
of  Collie  deserves  more  than  a passing  notice,  but  we 
regret  not  having  at  hand  the  means  of  presenting  some 
sketch  of  his  early  history.  We  can  here  only  state 
that  he  went  out  in  1822  and  died  1828.  He  was  con- 
nected with  the  Anglo-Chinese  college  at  Malacca, 
made  a translation  of  the  Four  Books,  and  gave  proof 
of  ripe  scholarship  and  great  promise  of  usefulness.  It 
is  reported  that  on  the  loss  of  health  he  embarked  for 
England  and  died  at  sea.  The  London  Society  has  left 
its  marks  at  Batavia,  Singapore,  Malacca,  and  Penang, 
and  on  the  opening  of  the  ports  in  1843,  its  missionaries 
were  all  removed  to  China.  They  have  efficient  stations 
at  Hong  Kong,  Canton,  Amoy  and  Shanghae,  and  at  the 
first  and  last  of  these  cities,  they  have,  in  addition  to 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


87 


churches  and  schools,  extensive  printing  establishments 
The  Anglo-Chinese  college,  founded  by  Morrison,  and 
located  at  Malacca,  has  been  removed  to  Hong  Kong,  and 
for  several  years  has  been  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Dr. 
Legge.  The  pupils  there  are  taught  English  and  Chinese 
and  brought  under  daily  religious  instruction,  and  some 
have  given  the  happy  evidence  of  piety,  and  promise  of 
aid  to  the  mission.  Others  are  employed  as  interpreters 
in  commercial  houses  and  government  offices,  where  they 
have  an  opportunity  of  exerting  an  extensive  and  health- 
ful influence. 

The  society  next  in  chronological  order  in  the  China 
mission,  excepting  the  Netherland  Missionary  Society, 
of  which  Mr.  Gutzlaff  was  the  only  representative,  is  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners,  whose  first  mission- 
aries, Bridgman  and  Abeel,  went  out  in  1830.  Dr. 
Bridgman  was  for  many  years  located  at  Canton,  where 
he  edited  the  Chinese  Repository,  a work  extending 
through  twenty  volumes,  of  about  six  hundred  pages 
each,  and  containing  a fund  of  reliable  information  re- 
garding China  and  the  Chinese,  to  be  found  nowhere 
else.  In  1841  Mr.  Bridgman  published  a Chinese  Chres- 
tomathy  in  seven  hundred  and  twenty-eight  royal  oc- 
tavo pages.  This  work,  designed  to  aid  the  foreign 
student  in  conquering  the  Chinese  language,  is  divided 
into  seventeen  chapters,  the  first  of  which  is  on  the  study 
of  the  Chinese  language,  comprising  exercises  in  read- 
ing, writing  and  conversation ; the  next  chapter  contains 
words  and  phrases  used  in  speaking  of  the  human  body ; 
the  third  chapter  comprises  phrases  on  kindred  relations. 
The  following  chapters  go  on  to  treat  of  different  classes 


88 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


of  men,  such  as  sages,  heroes,  bards,  etc. — of  domestic 
affairs,  commercial  affairs,  mechanical  affairs,  agricul- 
ture, geography,  government,  etc.,  giving  forms  of  ex- 
pression adapted  to  each.  These  various  forms  of  speech 
are  peculiarly  important  in  Chinese,  where  every  art  and 
profession  has  its  peculiar  technicalities,  more  perhaps 
than  in  any  other  language. 

Dr.  Bridgman  has  also  taken  a prominent  part  in  the 
revision  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  in  Chinese,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  past  has  resided  at  Shanghae.  His  early  col- 
league, Dr.  Abeel,  after  performing  important  service  in 
various  ways  and  in  different  places,  was  last  located  at 
Amoy,  and  may  be  looked  upon  as  the  founder  of  that 
mission,  and  where  his  name  is  held  in  high  veneration 
by  his  successors  and  the  heathen.  He  returned  to  this 
country  so  weary  with  toil  as  not  to  be  able  to  walk 
ashore,  and  died  at  Albany,  September  4,  1846.  These 
pioneers  of  the  American  Board  were  followed  by  wor- 
thy successors  from  the  same  society.  S.  Wells  Wil- 
liams, Stephen  Johnson,  Samuel  Munson,  went  out  in 
1833.  Munson  was  cut  off  by  cannibals  on  the  island 
of  Sumatra  soon  after  landing  in  the  East.  Johnson, 
after  many  years  of  devoted  labor  at  Bangkok,  and  af- 
terward at  Fuhchau,  from  failing  health,  returned  to  the 
United  States,  after  twenty  years  of  missionary  service, 
and  the  sacrifice  of  two  devoted  wives  on  the  altar  of 
China’s  redemption.  Williams  had  the  superintendence 
of  the  press  at  Canton,  printed  the  Chinese  Bepository, 
published  several  valuable  works  in  Chinese  and  En- 
glish, to  aid  the  foreign  student  in  learning  the  Chinese 
language,  such  as  easy  lessons  in  Chinese,  English  and 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


89 


Chinese  vocabulary,  etc.  These  works  are  of  great  value 
to  the  student  of  the  language.  In  1848  Dr.  Williams 
published  in  New  York  the  “Middle  Kingdom.”  a work 
in  two  volumes,  of  six  hundred  pages,  furnishing  a sur- 
vey of  the  geography,  government,  education,  arts  and 
social  life  of  the  Chinese.  This  is  a work  of  great  value 
as  a book  of  reference,  since  Dr.  Williams’  long  residence 
in  China,  and  his  post  of  observation,  gave  him  rare  fa- 
cilities for  gathering  information  on  the  various  points 
on  which  he  writes.  In  1887  Mr.  Williams  made  a visit 
in  the  ship  Morrison  to  Lewchew  and  Japan,  to  convey 
to  their  own  country  some  ship-wrecked  Japanese  who 
had  been  drifted  from  their  home  across  the  Pacific  ocean, 
and  after  fourteen  months  of  peril  and  privation  they 
landed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river.  Here  they 
were  plundered  by  the  Indians  and  kept  in  exile  till  re- 
leased by  a member  of  the  Hudson-Bay  Fur  Company, 
who  also  made  arrangements  to  send  them  to  England. 
They  accordingly  proceeded  from  Oregon  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  and  thence  to  London,  and  then  they  were 
sent  to  China.  They  reached  Macao  in  December,  1835. 
Here  they  were  joined,  in  1837,  by  four  more  of  their 
countrymen,  who  had  also  been  drifted  out  to  sea,  and 
cast  on  the  coast  of  Luconia.  They  afterwards  reached 
Manila,  and  thence  by  a Spanish  vessel  came  to  'Macao, 
where  they  were  fed  and  clothed  at  the  expense  of  Messrs. 
Olyphant  & Co.,  by  whom  the  benevolent  attempts  were 
made  to  land  them  on  their  native  shores.  To  prove  the 
friendly  object  of  the  mission,  Mr.  King,  of  the  house  of 
Olyphant  & Co.,  took  his  wife  on  board  the  ship.  Dr. 
Parker  took  a supply  of  medicines  and  means  of  healing. 


90 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Mr.  Grutzlaff  took  a few  "boxes  of  Chinese  Christian  books, 
and  Mr.  Williams  went  as  friend  and  interpreter  to  the 
mission. 

They  reached  Lewchew  July  12th,  where  they  remained 
three  days,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  30th  they  were 
near  the  Cape  Sagami,  and  the  entrance  of  the  bay  of 
Yedo.  On  attempting  to  enter,  they  heard  the  report  of 
guns  from  the  shore,  and  saw  the  balls  falling  towards 
the  ship  half  a mile  ahead,  and  they  soon  came  to  an- 
chor. Afterward  the  natives  very  cautiously  came  on 
board  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  but  finally  large  num- 
bers came  to  the  ship  and  partook  of  refreshments,  and 
appeared  friendly,  and  inviting  the  party  ashore  in  the 
morning.  Before  the  morning  came,  or  at  the  early 
dawn,  they  were  saluted  with  cannon  balls  whizzing 
over  the  ship,  one  of  which  struck  the  bulwarks,  plow- 
ing up  the  deck  in  its  progress.  The  Morrison  had  left 
her  guns  behind  as  proof  of  her  pacific  intentions ; and 
after  hoisting  her  signals,  and  a white  flag  without  avail, 
they  took  up  anchor  with  all  possible  haste  and  set  sail. 
A roll  of  canvas  was  thrown  overboard,  on  which  was 
written  the  object  of  their  visit.  The  natives  picked  it 
up  and  returned  towards  the  shore.  After  a similar  at- 
tempt to  land  the  poor  Japanese  exiles  on  their  own 
coast  at  other  points,  they  were  forced  to  the  painful 
conclusion  that  this  inhospitable  people  would  not  admit 
their  own  subjects  to  return  again  to  their  home  and 
their  families,  because  brought  back  to  their  shores  by  a 
foreign  ship.  They,  therefore,  returned  to  Macao  with 
the  seven  shipwrecked  Japanese  on  board,  and  landed  at 
the  place  of  departure  on  the  29th  of  August,  1837. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


91 


In  1856,  Dr.  "Williams  was  appointed  secretary  of 
legation  for  the  United  States,  and  since  that  time  has 
visited  Japan  with  the  United  States  squadron  under  cir- 
cumstances more  favorable  and  with  results  more  happy 
than  those  attending  the  former  visit  to  that  country. 
After  receiving  that  appointment,  he  resigned  his  con- 
nection with  the  Board  of  Commissioners ; still  his  sym- 
pathies and  influence  are  with  the  mission. 

The  next  name  in  chronological  order  on  the  list  of 
missionaries  of  the  American  Board,  is  Peter  Parker, 
who  went  to  China  in  1834.  He  visited  the  Straits  of 
Malacca  in  the  early  part  of  his  mission,  and  conducted 
for  several  months  a hospital  at  Singapore,  which  was 
the  means  of  relieving  many  of  the  suffering  Chinese, 
and  bringing  them  and  their  friends  under  the  sound  of 
the  gospel.  Soon  after,  he  opened  a hospital  in  the  city 
of  Canton,  where  for  many  years  he  occupied  a field  for 
surgical  practice,  and  enjoyed  a measure  of  success  in 
his  profession  which  rarely  falls  to  a surgeon  in  any 
country.  In  his  fourteenth  report  of  the  Ophthalmic 
Hospital,  published  at  Canton,  December  31,  1847,  the 
aggregate  number  of  patients  amounted  to  twenty-six 
thousand  five  hundred  and  four.  It  has  been  officially 
reported  that  in  the  city  of  Canton  alone  there  were  four 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  fifty  blind  persons,  but  this 
is  but  a small  number  compared  with  those  who  suffer 
from  diseased  eyes  in  that  city.  But  while  the  hospital, 
as  its  name  signifies,  was  designed  chiefly  for  diseases  of 
the  eye,  still  operations  for  calculus  and  lithotomy,  and 
tumors,  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence,  and  many  of 
them  of  rare  interest.  His  operations  on  the  eye  were 


92 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


most  numerous,  and  of  every  variety  of  form,  including 
entropia,  nebulas,  cataract,  etc. ; also  diseases  of  the  ear, 
so  that  his  delighted  patients,  when  cured,  sang  paeans 
to  his  triumphs  over  disease,  saying,  “he  maketh  the 
blind  to  see,  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the  lame  to  walk.” 
The  profession,  and  others  interested,  will  find  full  re- 
jsorts  of  the  Ophthalmic  Hospital  in  the  Chinese  Repos- 
itory, containing  minute  descriptions  of  individual  cases 
of  more  than  romantic  interest  and  unquestioned  truth- 
fulness. 

Besides  the  relief  to  the  bodies  of  the  Chinese,  this 
hospital  afforded  a chapel  for  religious  worship,  where 
the  Scriptures  were  read  and  the  gospel  preached  under 
circumstances  calculated  to  impress  the  heathen  with  the 
benevolence  of  Christianity. 

Dr.  Parker  accepted  the  appointment  of  Chinese  in- 
terpreter to  the  American  legation,  and  then  acted  as 
United  States  Commissioner  in  China  in  1856,  ’57. 

In  1835  Rev.  Edward  Stevens  joined  the  mission  of 
the  American  Board  in  China.  He  went  out  in  1832  as 
seaman’s  chaplain,  to  Canton,  and  during  his  brief  career 
exerted  an  excellent  influence,  and  died  peacefully  at 
Singapore  in  1837.  He  resided  at  Canton,  but  went  to 
Whampoa  to  preach  to  seamen  on  the  Sabbath.  There 
the  number  of  his  hearers  varied  from  fifteen  to  a hun- 
dred, on  an  average,  perhaps,  forty  or  forty-five.  He 
preached  to  the  sailors,  studied  the  Chinese  language, 
visited  the  sick,  buried  the  dead,  and  proved  himself  the 
devoted  Christian,  the  faithful  minister,  the  tried  friend, 
the  wise  counselor,  and  in  all  things  the  honored  servant 
of  God.  At  the  close  of  1836  he  embarked  for  a cruise 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


93 


in  the  Indian  Archipelago,  landed  at  Singapore,  where 
he  died  of  fever  which  terminated  bj  an  effusion  on  the 
brain,  January  5th,  1837,  aged  thirty-four  years. 

His  burial  place  was  the  field  of  labor  for  several  of 
the  missionaries  of  the  American  Board.  In  behalf  of 
that  society  Rev.  Ira  Tracy  commenced  the  mission  there 
in  1833,  and  was  joined  in  1836  by  Rev.  J.  T.  Dickinson, 
Rev.  M.  B.  Hope,  M.  D.,  Stephen  Tracy,  M.  D.,  each  of 
whom,  after  a few  years  of  devoted  service,  returned  to 
the  United  States  ; ill  health,  or  sickness  in  their  fami- 
lies being  the  cause  of  interrupting  their  missionary  work 
in  the  early  years  of  their  course. 

In  1838,  Rev.  Dyer  Ball,  M.  D.,  reached  Singapore, 
where  he  established  schools,  carried  on  Chinese  printing, 
healed  the  sick,  and  preached  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 
Mrs.  Ball  and  her  two  daughters  were  successfully  en- 
gaged in  conducting  a native  girls’  school,  teaching  the 
pupils  needle-work,  and  to  read  in  their  own  language. 
Towards  the  close  of  1840,  Mrs.  Ball’s  health  became  so 
precarious  that  the  family,  seeking  a cooler  climate,  re- 
moved to  China,  and  after  a short  residence  at  Macao, 
they  found  a home  at  Hong  Kong,  where  Mrs.  Ball  died, 
June  6th,  1844.  Dr.  Ball  soon  after  established  him- 
self in  the  city  or  suburbs  of  Canton,  away  from  the  for- 
eign flags  and  the  European  residents,  and  lived  and 
labored  among  the  people.  He  met  with  repeated  diffi- 
culties in  renting  a house  and  living  with  his  family  a 
mile  or  two  away  from  any  other  foreigners,  but  by  the 
exercise  of  Christian  philosophy  in  his  intercourse  with 
the  people,  and  untiring  perseverance  in  his  endeavors, 
he  at  length  gained  a residence  in  the  midst  of  the  peo- 


94 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


pie,  where  he  healed  the  sick,  and  printed  and  distributed 
tracts,  and  organized  a school  for  Chinese  girls — a far 
greater  achievement  in  China  than  organizing  a school 
of  boys — maintained  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and 
at  his  own  door  and  from  house  to  house,  daily  preached 
the  gospel  to  the  people.  He  has  grown  old  in  mission- 
ary service,  and  his  two  daughters  as  missionaries’  wives, 
and  with  a familiarity  with  the  Chinese  language,  are  do- 
ing much  to  save  the  neglected  millions  of  their  sex  in 
China. 

Rev.  Mr.  Pohlman,  from  the  same  society,  went  to  the 
East  the  same  year,  and  was  first  located  among  the  Chi- 
nese in  Borneo.  After  the  treaty  of  1842,  which  opened 
the  several  ports  on  the  Chinese  coast,  Mr.  Pohlman  re- 
moved to  China,  and  was  located  at  Amoy,  where  he 
labored  with  great  zeal  and  prosperity,  till  he  was 
drowned  in  1849,  on  his  way  from  Hong  Kong  to  Amoy. 

In  1889  the  society  sent  Rev.  Messrs.  Benham  and 
Peet  to  the  Chinese  mission,  and  stationed  them  at  Bang- 
kok. There,'  a few  weeks  after  landing,  Mr.  Benham 
was  drowned  in  the  river  Menam,  and  Mr.  Peet  was  af- 
terward removed  to  Fuh-Chau,  and  associated  with  Mr. 
S.  Johnson  in  establishing  a mission,  which  was  afterward 
joined  by  Messrs.  Cummings,  Baldwin,  and  Richards, 
who  reached  their  station  in  1848  ; and  in  1850  by  Mr. 
Doolittle ; and  in  1853,  by  Mr.  Hartwell.  These  breth- 
ren of  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners  have  found 
at  Fuh-Chau  an  inviting  field  for  labor,  on  which  they 
have  entered  with  encouraging  signs  of  success.  They 
have  also  at  Shangliae  a strong  station,  with  Dr.  Bridg- 
man, the  oldest  American  missionary  in  China,  at  the 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


95 


head,  with  able  associates  in  the  persons  of  Rev.  Messrs. 
Blodget  and  Aitchison,  who  joined  the  mission  in  1854. 
Their  first  station  in  China,  located  at  Canton,  has  been 
well  sustained  at  different  times  by  the  labors  of  Dr. 
Parker,  Dr.  Williams,  and  Dr.  Ball,  the  Rev.  J.  G.  Bridg- 
man, who  went  out  in  1844,  and  died  in  1850 ; Rev.  S.  W. 
Bonney,  who  joined  the  mission  in  1845,  and  has  labored 
much  at  Whampoa  ; the  Rev.  W.  A.  Macy,  who  went 
to  China  in  the  service  of  the  Morrison  Education  Soci- 
ety, in  1846,  and  afterward  joined  the  mission  of  the 
American  Board. 

They  have  also  had  the  labors  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Yroo- 
man  since  1852.  Mrs.  Yrooman  died  at  Macao  in  1854. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Brewster  joined  the  mission  in  1853,  but 
died  within  a month  after  landing. 

Canton,  with  its  vast  population,  and  wealth,  and  en- 
terprise, presents  an  inviting  field  for  teaching  Christian- 
ity, and  having  been  the  first  station  in  China  occupied 
by  Protestant  missionaries,  offers  many  advantages,  while 
the  moral  character  of  the  people  may  be  less  hopeful 
than  that  of  the  inhabitants  of  some  other  parts  of  China. 

The  society  next  in  chronological  order  in  the  China 
mission,  was  the  American  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  afterward  known  as  the  Baptist  Missionary 
Union.  William  Dean,  their  first  missionary  to  the  Chi- 
nese, went  out  in  1834,  in  company  with  Messrs.  Wade, 
Comstock,  Howard,  Yinton,  Osgood,  Miss  Gardener,  af- 
terward Mrs.  Abbott,  and  the  native  converts  Moung- 
Shway- Mowing  and  Ko-chat-Thing,  for  the  Burman  mission, 
and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bradley  and  Miss  White,  destined  to 
Singapore  and  Siam.  After  a tedious  voyage  of  one 


96 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


hundred  and  fifty-six  days,  they  anchored  off  the  town 
of  Amherst,  and  the  imprisonment  for  nearly  six  months 
on  board  ship,  with  almost  daily  symptoms  of  sea-sick- 
ness, made  all  joyful  once  again  to  step  foot  on  shore. 
The  long  habit  of  walking  the  ever  restless  decks  of  the 
ship,  rendered  the  gait  of  the  liberated  passengers  some- 
what like  that  of  drunken  men,  when  they  came  again 
to  walk  upon  the  stable  rocks  and  hills ; still  they  scram- 
bled up  to  the  first  heathen  temple  occupying  a little 
promontory,  whose  gilded  spires  were  glistening  in  the 
sun,  while  little  metallic  plates  suspended  to  the  turrets 
struck  against  each  other  by  the  force  of  the  wind,  pro- 
ducing a perpetual  chiming.  Idolatry,  which  had  been 
read  about  and  thought  over  and  prayed  for,  was  then 
for  the  first  time  seen  by  these  voyagers,  embodied  in 
hideous  images,  and  smoking  incense  and  pagan  temples. 
The  temple  of  heathenism  explored — the  graves  of  the 
missionaries  were  then  visited.  The  little  grove  which 
hangs  over  the  tomb  of  Ann  Haseltine  was  soon  reached 
• — tears  were  dropped  in  silence,  a leaf,  a flower,  or  blade 
of  grass  was  gathered  up  by  each,  as  a memento  of  the 
sainted  ones  sleeping  there — then  all  hastened  back  to 
the  ship,  with  new  thoughts  of  the  degradation  of  the 
heathen  and  nobler  aims  for  their  elevation.  Cephas 
Bennett  and  others  were  already  at  the  ship  with  boats 
to  take  the  company  to  Maulmain.  There  we  spent  a 
week  in  delightful  intercourse  with  the  missionaries  Jud- 
son,  Bennett,  Hancock  and  others ; then  leaving  our  fel- 
low-passengers destined  for  Burmah,  in  company  with 
those  for  Singapore  and  Siam,  we  reembarked  in  our 
old  ship  the  Cashmere,  with  Captain  Hallett,  for  the  re- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


97 


mainder  of  our  voyage.  While  at  Maulmain,  Mrs.  Sarah 
B.  Judson  had  resolved  to  send  to  America  her  little  son 
George,  then  sis  years  old,  and  the  only  surviving  relic 
of  the  honored  founder  of  the  Karen  mission. 

This  had  cost  the  mother  an  aching  heart,  but  it  was 
prompted  by  the  good  of  the  child.  His  little  garments, 
as  they  were  stitched  by  a mother’s  fingers  and  packed 
for  the  voyage  by  a mother’s  hands,  were  bedewed  by  a 
mother’s  tears.  The  boy  was  placed  under  our  guardian- 
ship for  the  voyage  to  Singapore,  and  thence  he  was  to 
proceed  to  the  United  States  under  the  care  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  ship.  A passage  of  a week  brought  the 
Cashmere  to  Penang,  when  the  passengers  went  ashore 
for  a few  days  and  enjoyed  the  hospitalities  of  the  Bev. 
Messrs.  Beighton  and  Dyer,  of  the  London  Missionary 
Societ}’,  and  Mr.  Gotleib  of  the  civil  service.  The  hills 
and  water-falls,  with  the  groves  of  nutmeg  and  clove 
trees,  render  the  island  of  Penang  a little  part  of  Para- 
dise. From  Penang  to  Singapore  we  were  four  days  on 
the  passage.  Here  we  left  the  ship  Cashmere,  which  had 
borne  us  across  the  wide  waters,  and  found  a temporary 
home  on  shore  while  awaiting  the  change  of  the  mon- 
soons to  allow  us  to  go  up  the  China  Sea. 

Here  Mrs.  Dean,  a few  weeks  after  landing,  and  before 
reaching  her  destination,  died  March  5,  1835.  Shortly 
after  this  bereavement  her  widowed  husband,  in  company 
with  Bev.  J.  Taylor  Jones,  of  the  Siam  mission,  then  at 
Singapore,  took  little  George  Boardman,  and  a box  of 
letters,  in  a small  China  boat  with  the  view  of  leaving 
them  on  the  Cashmere,  which  was  to  convey  them  to 
America.  We  started  at  early  dawn  and  rowed  seven  or 

5 


98 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


eight  miles  to  the  former  anchorage  of  the  ship,  when 
we  learned  that  she  had  removed  her  position  to  the 
other  side  of  the  straits,  and  quite  out  of  sight.  While 
resting  on  our  oars  and  deliberating  as  to  our  course,  a 
Malayan  boat,  with  six  or  eight  men  on  board,  came 
along  side  with  the  offer,  to  pilot  us  to  the  ship.  W e de- 
clined their  offer  and  they  left  for  the  shore,  where  it 
would  appear  that  they  took  on  board  more  men  and 
armed  themselves  with  stones,  swords  and  fishing-spears, 
and  coming  back,  renewed  the  offer  to  serve  as  our 
pilot.  While  the  two  boats  were  floating  along  with 
the  current,  side  by  side,  one  of  the  Malays  asked  for 
some  fruit  which  he  saw  in  the  bow  of  our  boat,  and 
as  Mr.  Jones  took  a handful  of  plantains  and  turned  to 
give  them  to  him,  he  stepped  into  our  boat  and  in  an  in- 
stant pushed  Mr.  Jones  backwards  overboard,  and  then 
turning  upon  the  writer  attempted  to  thrust  him  after  him. 
But  the  American,  being  then  youthful  and  strong, 
proved  more  than  a match  for  the  Asiatic,  who  knuckled 
under  and  fell  into  the  water.  This  he  did  not  care  for, 
being  a kind  of  amphibious  animal,  and  about  as  much 
at  home  in  the  water  as  on  land,  he  swam  to  his  own 
boat,  and  with  his  comrades  began  throwing  spears  at  us. 
These  were  of  one,  two,  and  some  of  three  prongs,  hav- 
ing a barbed  point,  and  attached  to  a handle  resembling 
a pitchfork.  At  this  time  Mr.  Jones  was  in  the  water, 
and  our  party  in  the  boat  consisted  of  two  Chinese  boat- 
men, little  George,  and  myself.  As  the  spears  com- 
menced flying  around  us,  I requested  little  George  to  go 
under  the  seat  in  the  stern  of  the  boat,  and  caught  up  a 
bit  of  board  six  inches  wide  and  about  two  feet  long,  and 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


99 


held  it  up  as  my  shield,  to  prevent  the  spears  from  strik- 
ing my  face  and  chest.  While  thus  defending  myself,  I 
received  one  spear  in  the  side,  one  in  the  shoulder,  and 
one  with  a double  prong  passed  through  my  wrist.  Its 
forked  shape  prevented  it  from  passing  through,  and  the 
barb  rendered  it  impossible  for  me  to  draw  it  back.  I 
therefore,  with  the  other  hand,  broke  off  the  handle, 
leaving  the  rusty  iron  transfixed  in  the  wrist. 

After  expending  their  weapons,  leaving  in  our  boat 
about  a dozen  spears  besides  what  were  in  my  body,  and 
two  or  three  sticking  in  the  flesh  of  our  Chinese  boat- 
men, the  tide  floated  them  off  to  a little  distance,  so  I 
had  time  to  pull  Mr.  Jones  out  of  the  water  nearly  in  a 
state  of  exhaustion  and  suffocation,  who,  after  being  re- 
suscitated, cut  the  irons  out  of  my  flesh  with  his  pocket- 
knife,  the  broad  blade  of  which  serving  as  a conductor 
for  extracting  the  barb  of  the  iron  from  the  wrist. 

During  this  surgical  operation  the  pirates  were  coming 
up  for  a renewed  attack,  and  brandishing  a broad-sword, 
saying,  in  broken  English,  “ you  no  give  me  that  box, 
I kill  you.”  Then,  for  the  first  time,  we  learned  the  ob- 
ject of  their  attack  ; it  was  to  get  the  box,  containing 
the  letters  and  journals  of  our  mission  party,  but  which 
they  supposed  contained  dollars.  It  was  a small  bonnet- 
box,  made  of  cherry,  and  the  key  had  been  lost  in  the 
water.  It  was  in  vain  that  we  assured  them  that  it  con- 
tained nothing  of  value  to  them.  They  persisted  in  hav- 
ing it  or  our  lives,  so  we  brought  them  to  a compromise 
by  promising  to  throw  it  overboard  if  they  would  drop 
astern  and  pick  it  up.  To  this  they  consented,  and  over 
it  went,  with  all  the  letters  of  friendship  and  journals 


100 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


written  by  about  twenty  persons,  during  a voyage  of  a 
hundred  and  fifty  days,  and  containing  tbeir  first  im- 
pressions of  tbe  beatben  world. 

While  they  were  on  their  boat,  cutting  open  this 
hard-wood  box,  we  were  increasing  our  distance  from 
them  as  fast  as  our  wounded  Chinese  boatmen  and  the 
opposing  tide  would  allow.  At  length  we  came  in  sight 
of  a fishing  boat  containing  forty  men,  who  for  a prem- 
ium consented  to  take  us  into  Singapore.  Before  leaving 
the  little  boat,  and  after  the  engagement  was  over,  which 
lasted  perhaps  for  half  an  hour,  but  which  seemed  an 
age,  during  which  little  George  had  been  forgotten,  till 
putting  his  inquiring  face  out  from  under  the  seat  of  the 
boat,  he  asked,  in  plaintive  tones — “ Mr.  Dean,  may  I 
come  out?”  On  examination,  we  found  that  the  spears 
had  been  driven  into  the  boards  on  each  side  of  him  and 
within  a hand-breadth  of  his  body,  but  he  remained  un- 
touched. After  reaching  the  large  boat,  and  feeling  com- 
paratively secure  from  the  pirates,  the  wounds  made  by 
those  rusty  fishing  spears  became  exceedingly  painful,  pro- 
ducing some  groans  and  blood ; little  George,  with  the 
big  tear  in  his  eye,  laid  his  hand  on  my  head,  and  said, 
“ Mr.  Dean,  are  going  to  die  now  ?” 

The  tearful  sympathy  of  “little  George,”  which  then 
found  expression  in  the  artless  words  and  generous  deeds 
of  childhood,  has  since  matured  into  the  manly  elo- 
quence of  the  Christian  pastor,  which  now  so  moves  the 
hearts  of  the  people.  Mr.  Dean  was  carried  from  the 
boat  to  the  mission  house,  when  the  sight  of  his  mother- 
less child  and  the  thoughts  of  leaving  his  infant  mis- 
sion produced  a momentary  struggle,  but  God’s  good- 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


101 


ness  gave  a triumph  in  favor  of  submission  in  the  near 
prospect  of  death,  and  the  same  goodness  soon  healed 
the  wounds  and  restored  to  health  the  invalid.  He 
procured  a Chinese  teacher  and  commenced  the  study 
of  the  language,  and  on  the  change  of  the  monsoon 
took  passage  in  an  Arab  ship  for  Bangkok.  This 
capital  city  of  the  kingdom  of  Siam  is  situated  on 
the  banks  of  the  river  Menam  (Mother  of  Waters) 
about  twenty-five  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  banks 
of  the  river  are  lined  with  a dense  jungle  of  small 
trees,  with  here  and  there  a palm  rising  above  them 
and  spreading  out  its  broad  leaves  over  the  tops  of 
the  surrounding  underwood.  The  water’s  edge  is  lined 
by  a tall,  coarse  grass  used  for  thatch  in  covering 
their  houses.  Here  and  there  an  opening  has  been 
made  in  the  jungle,  and  the  ground  occupied  by  rice 
fields  or  a sugar  plantation.  The  soil  is  exceedingly 
rich,  formed  by  an  alluvial  deposit  from  the  river,  and 
the  country  is  an  unbroken  level  for  many  miles  east 
and  west  of  the  river  and  extending  north  above  Ayu- 
thia,  which  was  the  capital  of  the  country  till  destroyed 
by  the  Burmans  little  more  than  half  a century  since. 
Bangkok  and  its  suburbs  lay  along  both  banks  of  the 
river  for  five  or  six  miles  in  extent,  but  the  city  proper  is 
on  the  eastern  banks,  and  is  about  six  miles  in  circuit, 
surrounded  by  a wall  twelve  feet  thick  and  fifteen  feet 
high.  Within  this  enclosure  stands  the  king’s  palace, 
several  pagan  temples  and  the  various  appendages  of  an 
eastern  city,  such  as  markets,  gaming  houses,  brothels 
and  places  of  business,  intermixed  with  artisan  shops  and 
dwellings  of  the  people. 


102 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  river  opposite  the  city  is  about  a hundred  rods 
wide,  and  runs  in  various  directions  while  passing  down 
to  the  Gulf.  Its  waters  are  muddy  when  taken  up,  but  af- 
ter standing  in  earthen  jars  for  a few  hours  become  clear 
and  are  used  for  all  the  usual  purposes  of  washing  and 
cooking.  The  river  is,  in  short,  the  sewer,  the  bathing 
tub  and  the  drinking  cup  of  the  entire  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  and  still  the  people  appear  to  be  healthy  I 

The  margin  of  the  river  on  either  side,  for  miles  in  ex- 
tent, is  lined  with  floating  houses,  which  have  for  their 
only  foundation  a float  of  bamboos  which  rise  and  fall 
with  the  tide.  These  are  fastened  to  a post  driven  into 
the  bed  of  the  river,  by  means  of  a cable,  and  occupied 
in  part  by  the  family,  while  the  front  room  serves  as  a 
shop  or  store  for  the  sale  of  dry  goods,  crockery,  and 
other  articles  of  trade.  This  allows  their  customers,  as 
in  Venice,  to  go  shopping  in  their  boats,  and  indeed  the 
river  and  canals  constitute  the  chief  highways  and  streets 
of  the  city.  In  Bangkok  are  about  a hundred  wats,  or 
Budhist  religious  establishments,  and  each  wat  on  an 
average  contains  about  a hundred  priests.  A wat  in- 
cludes from  one  to  three  large  and  lofty  temples  in  one 
enclosure,  in  which  the  images  are  placed,  surrounded 
by  a number  of  houses  occupied  by  the  priests.  Each 
priest  has  a cell  by  himself  where  he  may  eat  and  sleep, 
and  he  has  not  much  else  to  do  since  he  goes  about 
among  the  people  every  morning  and  gathers  his  food 
already  cooked.  They  are  the  fattest  and  the  best  fed 
men  of  the  kingdom.  These  temples  are  built  of  brick 
and  occupy  the  best  sites  in  the  country,  and  in  expense 
and  taste  of  architecture  far  exceed  the  dwellings  even 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


103 


of  the  nobility.  The  ground  about  a wat,  varying  in 
extent  from  two  to  five  acres,  is  generally  laid  out  with 
walks  paved  with  marble  or  granite,  or  tiles,  and  orna- 
mented with  shade  trees  and  Ictus  flowers. 

It  is  regarded  by  them  a work  of  great  merit  to 
build  a wat,  or  feed  the  priests,  which  the  nobles  vie 
with  each  other  in  doing,  and  each  family  is  in  the  habit 
of  boiling  a pot  of  rice  every  morning  to  feed  to  the 
priests  as  they  come  along  for  it,  while  the  mother,  with 
a little  child  before  her,  will  give  a cup  of  rice  and  make 
a salutation  of  worship  to  every  man  with  a shaven  head 
and  yellow  cloth,  thus  teaching  the  child  to  venerate  the 
priesthood. 

Bangkok,  with  a population  of  half  a million,  half  of 
whom  perhaps  are  Chinese,  is  the  capital  of  a country 
where  the  snow  never  falls,  where  the  grass  is  ever 
verdant,  where  the  trees  are  ever  green,  where  the  flow- 
ers ever  bloom,  where  the  fruits  ever  ripen,  where  the 
summer  lasts  all  the  year ; a country  without  railroads, 
carriage-roads,  or  bridle-paths;  whose  houses  are  with- 
out cellars  or  chimnies  ; whose  inhabitants  wear  neither 
shoes  nor  hats,  neither  shirts  nor  pants,  but  a single  cloth 
tied  about  the  waist  and  hanging  down  below  the  knee, 
forms  the  only  covering,  except  a scarf  thrown  over  the 
shoulder,  and  passing  over  one  arm  and  under  the  other ; 
whose  people  use  neither  chairs  nor  tables,  neither  forks 
nor  knives,  neither  sheets  nor  bed-quilts,  but  a mat  and 
a pillow  under  them,  and  their  daily  covering  and  a 
musquito-net  over  them,  is  all  they  require  for  sleeping. 
They  eat  neither  beef  nor  mutton,  neither  butter  nor 
cheese — but  rice  and  fish  constitute  their  principal  food 


104 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


— while  they  make  up  for  all  other  deficiencies  of  eating, 
by  a perpetual  chewing  of  betel-nut  and  eerie,  prepared 
with  a little  lime  and  tobacco.  This  is  used  both  by 
men  and  women,  and  the  little  boys  learn  to  smoke 
cigars  before  they  are  weaned  from  their  mother’s  breast. 

The  country  is  rich  in  its  productions  of  rice,  sugar,  cof- 
fee, indigo,  ivory,  sapan-wood,  sticklac,  gum-benjamin, 
etc.,  and  is  fast  becoming  a place  of  foreign  commerce. 
The  native  princes  have  set  a worthy  example  to  their 
neighbors,  in  building  ships  after  European  models. 

The  present  king  is  a man  of  much  intelligence  and 
good  education.  He  reads  English  and  Latin,  and  is 
familiar  with  the  Pali,  the  sacred  language  of  the  coun- 
try. He  and  his  brother,  known  to  the  world  as  Chau- 
fa-noi,  have  received  instruction  from  the  late  Dr.  Jones 
and  other  missionaries  resident  at  Bangkok. 

The  following  letter  from  his  Siamese  majesty  was 
written  with  his  own  hand : 

“ Rajaiiondirn  House,  Grand  Palace, 
“Bangkok,  Siam,  18th  January,  1853. 

“ This  from 

“ Siamese  Royal  Authority  by  Friendship , 

“ To  Reverend  William  Dean,  of  Hong  Kong. 

“Dear  Sir: — Your  letters  of  11th  and  17th 
of  December,  ultimo,  together  a small  piece  of  printed 
newspaper  enclosed,  the  letter  from  his  Excellency  Dr. 
John  Bowring,  two  books  from  Reverend  Mr.  J.  John- 
son, and  the  tin  box  of  your  presents  of  the  fine  watch- 
stand,  and  the  card  of  many  kings  and  queens,  rulers  of 
England,  you  have  kindly  sent  me  per  board  Siamese 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


105 


vessel  ‘Velocity,’  were  reached  by  hand  on  the  2d  in- 
stant, month  and  year. 

“ I beg  to  send  you  herewith  the  long  narrative  ac- 
count of  my  dearest  poor  queen  consort,  relating  since 
her  birth  until  her  death,  printed  in  lithographic  press 
which  was  just  introduced  into  Siam,  by  purchasing 
from  England  by  myself.  I commenced  to  prepare  this 
account  after  a few  days  from  the  death  of  my  dearest 
consort ; but  for  many  affairs  coming  to  the  pressure  of 
my  duty  I could  not  let  it  end  till  the  last  month,  though 
I have  promised  to  you  in  my  last  letter  to  send  it  to 
you  and  other  of  my  and  her  friends. 

“ On  this  occasion  I direct  my  parcel  to  be  delivered 
to  his  Excellency  Dr.  John  Bowring  firstly,  to  let  him 
be  glad  that  I become  his  intimate  or  familiar ; so  I have 
sent  my  letters  to  him  for  being  distributed  among  my 
friends  of  Hong  Kong. 

“ His  Excellency’s  character  appeared  to  me,  by  peru- 
sal of  his  letters,  that  he  has  an  honest,  tender  regard 
greatly  towards  me,  and  most  eminent  friend,  credible 
from  many  instances  which  are  observed  from  statements 
of  many  friends  of  our  correspondences  from  other 
places.  Our  many  friends  must  have  rumor,  or  their 
presumptive  conclusion,  that  all  Siamese  principals,  or 
royal  and  noble  authorities,  are  always  afraid  or  fear- 
ful of  the  coming  of  his  Excellency  Sir  James  Brooke, 
K.  C.  B.  (who  is  most  celebrated  for  his  almighty  and 
powerfulness  in  his  military  actions  ever  done  before  in 
various  instances),  for  a mission  to  Siam,  to  negotiate  a 
new  treaty  with  us,  for  which  consequence  there  must  be 
some  disturbance  between  us  and  him. 

5 * 


106 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


“ I beg  to  state  that  such  a danger  is  now  not  as  on 
elapsed  days  of  the  late  king,  who,  together  [with]  his 
principal  councilors,  do  not  know  the  real  nature  of 
civilized  and  enlightened  nations,  thinking  or  guess- 
ing the  operations  of  other  countries  in  the  same  man- 
ner of  that  of  Burmah,  Cochin-China,  etc.,  that  ever 
had  been  our  enemies,  or  opposed  adjacent  countries 
towards  us. 

“ In  fact,  his  Excellency  Sir  James  Brooke  is  my 
friend — ever  corresponded  with  me,  with  his  and  my 
letters,  and  valued  presents,  since  he  visited  Siam,  on 
last  mission ; but  his  connection,  by  friendship,  with  me 
and  his  Excellency  Phya-sei-suriy-wong  was  formerly 
most  clandestine  [secret],  for  danger  of  the  unreasonable 
suspects  of  the  late  Siamese  royal  and  noble  authorities. 
Now,  their  Excellencies  Sir  James  Brooke  and  Phya-sei- 
suriy-wong  correspond  to  each  other,  mutually,  almost 
every  third  or  fourth  month  of  the  year  since  I became 
king.  On  this  month  we  have  received  a letter  from  his 
Excellency  Sir  James  Brooke,  that  his  mission  to  Siam 
was  ordered  him  by  the  Lord  Parliaments  of  England. 
Merely  he  intends  to  be  back  to  Singapore  to  visit  us  by 
return  from  his  home  on  this  month  or  next.  W e are 
not  fearful  of  his  visitation,  because  we  now  know  his 
character,  that  he  is  a genuine  philanthropist;  he  will 
negotiate  the  new  treaty  with  us,  by  reasons  which  he 
might  learn  from  our  statements  being  indulgent  to  this 
poor  country,  and  we  will  treat  and  do  with  him  reason- 
ably, not  as  in  most  Asiatic  ignorance,  like  that  of  Bur- 
mah, lately  and  present. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


107 


“ I am  still  a widower,  being  with  tbe  remains  of  my 
dearest  queen  consort. 

“I  remain  yours,  etc., 

“ S.  P.  P.  Maha  Mongkut, 

“True  King  of  Siam.” 

His  Siamese  Majesty  was  for  many  years  known  to 
tbe  world  under  tbe  title  of  Ohau-fa-yai  (Chau-fa  tbe 
Elder),  and  bis  younger  brother  as  Cbau-fa-noi  (Chau- 
fa  tbe  Younger).  These  two  brothers  are  tbe  only  re- 
maining sons  of  the  queen  consort  to  tbe  predecessor  of 
tbe  late  king,  and  at  the  death  of  their  father,  in  1823, 
the  elder  of  the  two  was  the  lawful  heir  to  the  throne ; 
but  his  claims  were  waived  in  favor  of  his  half-brother, 
who  was  his  senior  in  years,  though  inferior  in  rank, 
being  a son  of  the  same  father  by  a concubine.  This 
man,  after  a reign  of  twenty-seven  years,  died  April  2, 
1851,  aged  sixty-three.  The  present  king,  on  the  acces- 
sion of  his  half-brother  to  the  throne,  entered  the  Bud- 
hist  priesthood,  till  he  was  called  out  by  the  nobles  of 
the  country  to  fill  the  vacant  throne.  His  coronation 
took  place  May  15,  1851,  when  he  was  forty-seven  years 
of  age.  Perhaps  no  Asiatic  prince  has  more  generally 
or  more  deservedly  the  confidence  of  his  people,  or  is 
better  qualified  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  his  coun- 
try, than  the  present  king  of  Siam.  Intellectually,  he 
would  rank  high  in  any  country ; and  is  distinguished 
for  his  good  sense,  generous  sympathy,  and  sound  judg- 
ment. He  is,  personally,  rather  tall  and  spare,  with  a 
look  and  manner  indicative  that  he  was  born  to  com- 
mand. 


108 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Having  spent  the  twenty-seven  years  of  the  former 
reign  in  the  Budhist  priesthood,  whose  rules  impose  a 
life  of  celibacy,  his  Majesty  on  the  2d  of  January,  1852, 
was  married  to  the  Princess  Somanass  Waddhanawatty, 
who  was  then  eighteen  years,  of  age.  This  youthful 
queen  was  much  esteemed  by  his  Majesty,  and  highly 
respected  by  the  people,  but  lived  but  a few  months  after 
her  marriage  and  coronation.  Her  Majesty’s  last  illness 
tested  the  skill  of  the  king’s  physicians  and  Dr.  Bradley, 
who  was  also  in  attendance.  Their  combined  endeavors 
could  only  mitigate  the  sufferings,  but  not  preserve  the 
life  of  their  royal  patient.  She  died  October  10th, 
1852,  and  after  her  decease,  her  Majesty’s  remains  were 
adorned  with  golden  ornaments,  in  the  full  style  and 
dignity  of  a queen,  and  then  placed  in  a golden  urn 
with  a queen’s  crown  on  her  head,  and  the  same  night 
removed  to  the  gilded  hall  of  the  grand  palace,  and 
placed  in  the  same  apartment  in  which  the  remains  of 
his  late  Majesty  were  kept  for  thirteen  months  previous 
to  the  time  of  burning.  This,  in  the  case  of  the  queen, 
was  attended  with  ceremonies  suited  to  her  Majesty’s 
exalted  rank,  and  her  remains  were  kept  embalmed  for 
nearly  half  a year  before  the  funeral  services.  Burning 
instead  of  burial  is  universally  practiced  among  the  na- 
tives of  Siam.  This  custom  is  perhaps  becoming  a city 
where  water  is  found  in  almost  any  place,  three  feet 
below  the  surface  of  the  ground. 

By  letters  from  Bangkok,  dated  January,  1859,  we 
learn  that  his  Majesty  has  erected  a tall  spire  within  the 
city  to  sustain  a town  clock,  that  a new  yacht,  a screw 
steamer,  a little  side-wheel  steamer  and  new  ships  for 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


109 


commerce  and  defense,  are  floating  on  the  waters  of  the 
Menam  ; and  flags  of  the  United  States,  of  England, 
Portugal,  France,. Denmark,  etc.,  are  flying  over  the  re- 
spective consulates  on  shore.  Mercantile  houses  have 
been  established  at  the  capital,  and  modern  improve- 
ments are  being  introduced  in  the  country — and  at  no 
distant  day  we  expect  that  the  telegraphic  wires  will  be 
stretched  from  the  sea-coast  to  the  capital,  and  railroads 
will  track  the  country.  With  the  enlightened  views  and 
liberal  policy  of  his  Majesty,  and  the  practical  ingenuity 
and  active  enterprise  of  his  brother  the  second  king, 
together  with  the  varied  resources  and  unparalleled  agri- 
cultural capabilities  of  the  soil,  we  expect  Siam  to  take 
a leading  position  among  the  powers  of  Asia. 

In  the  heart  of  this  kingdom,  and  with  the  recognition 
and  toleration  of  the  government,  the  mission  has  been 
established  and  successfully  prosecuted.  The  first  agents 
who  visted  this  country  with  the  view  of  exploring  and 
testing  its  eligibility  for  a mission  station,  were  the  Rev. 
Charles  Grutzlaff,  a German  from  the  Netherlands  Mis- 
sionary Society,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Tomlin,  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  and  the  Rev.  David  Abeel,  of  the 
American  Board  of  Commissioners.  The  first  missionary 
who  located  at  Bangkok  with  the  view  of  residing  there, 
was  the  Rev.  J.  Taylor  Jones,  of  the  American  Baptist 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  left 
America  August  2d,  1830,  and  after  commencing  their 
labors  in  Burmah,  they  were  requested  to  establish  a mis- 
sion among  the  Siamese.  For  this  purpose  they  left  Bur- 
mah September,  1882,  touching  at  Penang  and  Singa- 
pore, where  they  were  for  a short  time  detained  for  a ship, 


110 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


and  finally  reached  their  destination  at  Bangkok,  where  in 
March,  1833,  they  were  comfortably  settled  in  their  little 
bamboo  cottage  on  the  mission  premises,  which  proved 
the  scene  of  their  pious  toils,  and  at  length  of  their 
triumphant  death.  They  each,  after  years  of  successful 
service,  breathed  out  the  last  of  life  on  the  identical  spot 
where,  for  the  salvation  of  Siam,  they  first  commenced 
their  self-denying  labors.  Mrs.  Jones,  a woman  of  rare 
fitness  for  introducing  Christianity  to  her  sisters  in  Siam, 
died  of  cholera,  March  28th,  1838.  Dr.  Jones  lived  to 
see  the  New  Testament  translated  in  an  intelligible  and 
idiomatic  manner,  and  printed  in  their  language,  and 
eagerly  sought  and  read  by  princes,  the  priests,  and  the 
people. 

He  was  our  model  missionary.  Richly  endowed,  liber- 
ally educated,  generally  informed,  practically  Christian, 
humble-minded,  good  tempered,  conversational,  patient, 
plodding,  accurate,  fraternal,  faithful.  Take  him  altogether 
we  have  never  seen  the  man  who  combined  so  many  de- 
sirable qualifications  in  one  symmetrical  missionary  char- 
acter. He  was  the  acknowledged  teacher  of  the  present 
king  and  princes,  a favorite  with  the  priests  and  the  people, 
and  after  eminent  service  as  the  translator,  the  preacher, 
the  philologist,  the  interpreter,  the  peace-maker  — the 
friend  of  all,  he  died  at  Bangkok,  September  13,  1851, 
after  more  than  twenty  years  of  efficient  missionary  ser- 
vice, and  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his  age.  The  results  of 
his  influence  are  now  being  developed  in  the  enlightened 
policy  of  the  government,  the  growing  prosperity  of  a 
kingdom,  and  the  budding  prospects  of  the  Christian 
church  in  that  land,  and  the  still  brighter  promise  that 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Ill 


its  people  at  length  are  to  share  with  him  the  glories  of 
the  happy  in  heaven. 

In  the  Siam  mission  he  was  joined  in  1836  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davenport.  Mr.  Davenport  took  charge  of 
the  printing  office,  which  was  supplied  with  two  good 
presses,  fonts  of  Siamese,  English,  and  Chinese  type,  and 
worked  by  natives  trained  there  for  the  service.  In  the 
superintendency  of  this  department,  as  well  as  in  preach- 
ing and  tract  distribution,  Mr.  Davenport  rendered  impor- 
tant service.  Mrs.  Davenport,  who  with  great  facility 
acquired  the  native  language,  was  actively  employed  in 
teaching  the  youth,  and  other  services  for  the  prosperity 
of  the  mission.  After  ten  years’  service  they  returned  to 
this  country  in  1846,  where  Mr.  Davenport  died  a few 
years  after. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slafter  joined  the  mission  in 
August,  1839.  In  Mr.  Slafter  Dr.  Jones  found  a kindred 
spirit  and  a true  yoke-fellow  in  the  work  of  the  Lord. 
His  manly  form  and  generous  face — noble  aims  and  com- 
manding intellect,  rendered  him  at  once  an  object  of  re- 
spect and  an  agent  of  great  promise  to  the  mission.  His 
plans  of  usefulness  had  been  matured  with  much  deliber- 
ation and  prayerfulness,  and  his  work  entered  upon  with 
great  energy  and  interest.  He  had  commenced  to  read 
and  speak  the  language,  had  made  extensive  tours  through 
the  country,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Slafter,  for  the  distri- 
bution of  books  and  an  exploration  of  the  country. 
During  these  tours  they  reached  points  in  the  interior 
before  unvisited  by  foreigners,  and  addressed  words  of 
good  news  to  wondering  pagans  who  had  never  before 
looked  upon  a white  face,  nor  listened  to  words  from 


112 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


foreign  lips.  After  one  of  these  excursions  among  the 
people  he  returned  home  under  the  power  of  disease  con- 
tracted in  the  pagan  jungle,  and  in  the  midst  of  labors 
so  full  of  promise,  and  in  which  his  heart  was  so  much 
engrossed,  received  from  the  Master  his  summons  to 
come  up  higher.  He  reached  the  mission  house  in  great 
feebleness,  where  for  several  weeks  he  lay  balancing  be- 
tween life  and  death  till  the  7th  of  April,  1841,  when, 
with  abounding  triumph,  he  rested  from  his  work,  to 
hear  the  welcome  of  “ Well  done,  good  and  faithful  ser- 
vant, enter  thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord.” 

In  1848  Mr.  Chandler,  a machinist  and  type-founder, 
was  removed  from  Burmah  to  the  mission  at  Bangkok. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chandler  have  continued  their  labors  in 
Bangkok  to  the  present  time,  and  have  rendered  impor- 
tant aid  in  the  instruction  of  the  people,  both  old  and 
young,  as  well  as  the  valued  services  of  Mr.  Chandler  in 
the  type-foundry  and  printing  office,  and  also  timely  aid 
and  instruction  to  native  princes  in  establishing  machine- 
shops  and  encouraging  useful  works  of  art. 

In  the  early  part  of  1848,  Miss  H.  H.  Morse,  who  had 
labored  in  the  mission  at  Sault  de  St.  Marie,  among  the 
Indians,  reached  Bangkok,  where  she  was  zealously  en- 
gaged in  teaching  the  Siamese  till  1855,  when  she  re- 
turned to  the  United  States,  and  is  now  laboring,  under 
the  same  society,  among  the  Delawares  in  Kansas. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  J.  Smith  joined  the  mission  in  1848. 
On  him  now  rests  largely  the  responsibilities  of  the  mis- 
sion, iu  which  he  finds  efficient  aid  from  Mrs.  Smith,  the 
widow  of  the  late  Dr.  Jones,  and  to  Mr.  Smith  the  mis- 
sion are  looking  for  a translation  of  the  Old  Testament 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


113 


into  Siamese,  to  complete  that  department  of  the  work 
commenced  and  so  ably  prosecuted  by  Dr.  Jones.  Mrs. 
Smith  has  now  a flourishing  school  of  fifty  or  sixty 
pupils,  and  is  the  editor  of  a monthly  publication  in  the 
native  language,  designed  for  the  youth.  Mrs.  Smith  has 
also  such  a knowledge  of  the  Chinese  language  as  to  en- 
able her  to  read  their  Christian  tracts  and  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  to  cheer  the  native  disciples-  on  in  their  service 
for  Christ. 

The  American  Board  of  Commissioners  have  also  had 
a mission  at  Bangkok,  commenced  in  1884,  by  the  Rev. 
Charles  Robinson  and  Stephen  Johnson,  the  foi’mer  la- 
boring for  the  Siamese,  and  the  latter  for  the  Chinese. 
In  the  Siamese  department  Mr.  Robinson  had  for  his  as- 
sociates and  successors  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Bradly,  Caswell, 
Hemmenway,  French,  and  Robbins.  Associated  with 
Mr.  Johnson  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Benham,  Peet,  and 
Dr.  Tracy. 

Mr.  Benham  was  drowned  in  the  river  Menam  three 
weeks  after  his  arrival  at  Bangkok  ; Dr.  Tracy  returned 
to  America,  and  Messrs.  Johnson  and  Peet  removed  to 
China  and  commenced  a mission  at  Fuh-Chau. 

Mr.  French  died  after  a few  months’  residence  in  Siam, 
of  pulmonary  consumption.  Mr.  Hemmenway,  from 
failing  health,  after  many  years  of  faithful  service,  re- 
turned to  the  United  States.  Mr.  Caswell  labored  with 
great  success  for  several  years,  and  died  at  Bangkok.  Mr. 
Robinson,  after  about  fifteen  years  of  devoted  toil,  with 
worn  out  energies  embarked  for  the  United  States  with 
his  family,  but  died  after  having  passed  St.  Helena,  and 
was  buried  in  the  deep. 


114 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Dr.  Bradly  has  since  joined  the  American  Missionary 
Association,  and  has  had  associated  with  him  under  the 
patronage  of  that  society,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Silsby  and  Dr. 
Lane,  but  Dr.  Bradly  and  his  family  are  the  only  repre- 
sentatives of  that  association  now  in  Siam.  He  has  con- 
tinued his  labors  there  sincd  1835,  with  great  zeal  and 
enterprise  and  prayerfulness.  His  labors  have  been  mul- 
tiform, practicing  medicine  among  princes  and  paupers, 
in  private  families  and  public  hospitals — formerly  accord- 
ing to  the  rules  of  allopathy,  now  according  to  the  forms 
of  homoepathy.  He  has  also  labored  in  tract  distribu- 
tion from  house  to  house,  as  well  as  from  the  tract  house, 
and  in  the  bazar  ; in  tract-making,  in  printing,  preaching, 
and  all  the  various  forms  of  missionary  work,  and  sev- 
eral of  these  in  progress  during  the  same  day. 

The  American  Presbyterian  Board  sent  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Orr  on  an  exploring  visit  to  Siam  in  1838,  and  located 
the  Rev.  W.  P.  Buell,  their  first  missionary  to  Siam, 
there  in  1840.  After  learning  the  language  and  com- 
mencing his  work,  he  was  obliged,  in  consequence  of 
Mrs.  Buell’s  health,  to  return  to  the  United  States. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  Mattoon  and  wife,  and  S.  R.  House, 
M.D.,  reached  Bangkok  in  March,  1847.  The  latter  has 
since  visited  this  country,  and  returned  to  his  field  of 
labor  accompanied  by  Mrs.  House.  The  former  is  now 
on  a visit  to  the  United  States,  whither  Mrs.  Mattoon 
had  preceded  him. 

In  1849,  the  mission  was  joined  by  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Bush.  After  about  two  years,  Mrs.  Bush  died  at  Bang- 
kok, of  hermorrhage  of  the  lungs,  July  23,  1851,  and 
Mr.  Bush  returned  to  this  country  in  1853.  This  mission 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


115 


has  since  been  reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Wilsone  and  Mac  Gil  vary  and  their  wives. 

In  this  city  the  American  Baptist  Board  commenced 
its  mission  to  the  Chinese.  In  the  early  part  of  1835  its 
first  agent  proceeded  from  Singapore  to  Bangkok  bereft 
and  alone  in  his  work.  But  to  prove  that  the  excellency 
of  the  power  is  of  God,  and  not  of  man,  the  Master  em- 
ployed his  very  imperfect  services  in  gathering  in  that 
pagan  city  a company  of  heathen  for  religious  worship, 
from  whom  a little  band  of  converts  were  baptized,  and 
a Christian  church  was  organized. 

Individual  Chinese  had  been  converted  at  other  places ; 
and  at  this  station  a Chinaman,  under  the  ministrations  of 
Messrs.  Gutzlaff  and  Abeel,  had  professed  faith  but  soon 
apostatized  ; two  or  three  others  had  been  baptized  by  Mr. 
Jones,  but  they  wrere  all  dead — when  in  December,  1835, 
Pe  Me,  Chek  Chun,  and  Chek  Ho  were  baptized  by  Wil- 
liam Dean,  and  organized  into  a church  under  his  care. 
So  far  as  we  know,  this  was  the  first  Protestant  church 
composed  of  Chinese  converts.  Others  were  afterward 
added  to  them  of  such  as  afforded  evidence  of  being  born 
again.  Some  have  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus,  some  have 
fallen  away,  and  others  live  to  prove  the  transforming 
power  of  the  Christian  faith  upon  the  character  and  life 
of  those  who  were  born  in  paganism  and  schooled  in  all 
the  vices  and  degradation  of  idolatry. 
i In  1835  the  society  sent  out  Alanson  Reed,  who  was 
located  at  Bangkok,  where  he  gave  great  promise  of  use- 
fulness, but  disease  soon  marked  him  for  a victim,  and 
he  died,  August  29th,  1837.  The  mission  was  greatly 
strengthened  in  1839,  by  the  arrival  of  Josiah  Goddard, 


116 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


who  brought  with  him  rare  qualifications  for  missionary 
work  in  all  its  departments.  He  gave  his  attention  pri- 
marily to  the  work  of  translating  the  Scriptures,  but  was 
ready  to  preach  the  gospel  and  distribute  tracts,  and  from 
house  to  house  to  teach  the  heathen.  He  published  at 
Bangkok,  in  1847,  a Chinese  and  English  vocabulary,  in 
the  Tie-Chiu  dialect,  a book  of  much  value  to  the  learn- 
ers of  the  language.  He  published,  while  there,  some 
portions  of  his  translation  of  the  New  Testament,  and 
after  the  removal  of  the  former  pastor  to  Hong  Kong, 
he  took  charge  of  the  Chinese  church,  and  baptized  many 
disciples.  The  church  prospered  under  his  care,  the  na- 
tive assistants  were  instructed  and  rendered  more  efficient 
in  their  work,  and  though  much  of  the  time  without  an 
associate  in  the  Chinese  department,  yet  with  the  aid  of 
the  native  helpers,  and  with  the  judicious  counsels  and 
kindly  cooperation  of  Hr.  Jones,  and  others  of  the  Siam- 
ese mission  located  in  the  same  city,  this  branch  of  the 
China  mission  has  justly  been  regarded  as  one  of  the 
most  important  stations  among  the  Chinese. 

In  1846  the  Bev.  E.  1ST.  Jenks  and  wife  joined  the  mis- 
sion. Mr.  Jenks  made  rapid  progress  in  learning  the 
language,  but  the  failure  of  Mrs.  Jenks5  health  obliged 
them  to  leave  the  field  before  he  had  fully  entered  upon 
his  work.  Mrs.  Jenks  died  at  sea,  on  the  passage  to  the 
United  States,  April  12tli,  1848. 

The  Bev.  William  Ashmore  and  wife  joined  the  mis- 
sion in  1851.  They  came  eminently  fitted  for  usefulness, 
and  entered  upon  their  work  with  great  devotion  and 
success. 

Mr.  Ashmore  acquired  the  language  so  as  to  preach 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


117 


the  gospel  to  the  Chinese  with  rare  accuracy  and  accept- 
ance. Mrs.  Ashmore  was  employed  in  teaching  the  chil- 
dren of  the  church  members  and  conducting  a female 
prayer  meeting  among  the  native  women,  and  in  a vari- 
ety of  ways  contributed  her  full  share  to  the  interests 
and  encouragement  of  her  colleagues,  and  the  success  of 
the  mission.  Her  health  at  length  became  so  far  enfee- 
bled by  the  climate  and  her  toils  that  a change  was  in- 
dispensable to  life.  They  reached  Hong  Kong  in  Jan- 
uary, 1858,  where  Mr.  Ashmore  remained  in  charge  of 
the  mission,  while  Mrs.  Ashmore  and  her  two  little  boys 
embarked  in  company  with  Eev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
for  the  United  States.  Before  reaching  her  native  land 
Mrs.  Ashmore  slept  in  Jesus,  and  was  buried  in  the  sea, 
leaving  her  dear  children  to  seek  a home  under  the  roof 
where  their  sainted  mother  spent  the  days  of  her  child- 
hood, where  they  now  enjoy  the  guardianship  of  her 
parents. 

The  mission  at  Bangkok  is  now  left  in  the  charge  of 
Bev.  Robert  Telford,  who,  with  Mrs.  Telford,  went  out 
in  1854.  They  have  made  encouraging  progress  in  the 
language,  and  occupy  an  important  held  of  labor.  This 
mission,  at  the  capital  of  a kingdom,  in  the  suburbs 
of  a city  of  nearly  half  a million  of  souls,  where  the 
Chinese  form  a large  percentage  of  the  people,  and  con- 
stitute a major  part  of  the  merchants,  sugar-makers,  gar- 
deners, carpenters,  shoemakers,  blacksmiths,  tailors,  etc., 
of  the  city,  is  favorably  situated  for  evangelizing  the 
Chinese.  The  city,  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Menam, 
and  about  twenty-five  miles  from  its  mouth,  is  at  the 
head  of  navigation  for  large  junks  and  ships,  which  are 


118 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


in  frequent  communication  with  Singapore  and  China. 
There  have  been  from  fifty  to  a hundred  junks  a year 
from  Singapore,  Batavia,  Canton,  Tie-chiu,  Amoy  and 
Shanghae,  and  now  ships  from  Europe  and  America,  in 
considerable  numbers,  visit  that  port,  besides  the  Siam- 
ese vessels,  built  after  a European  model,  which  sail  to 
different  countries. 

As  an  illustration  of  the  practical  workings  of  this 
mission  upon  the  people  of  the  empire,  we  may  here  re- 
cord that  a poor  man,  a shoemaker,  who  had  at  Bang- 
kok heard  the  gospel  and  become  a member  of  the 
church,  returned  to  his  native  place  in  the  interior  of 
the  Tie-chiu  district,  where  he  resumed  his  work  as  a 
shoemaker,  to  gain  his  food,  and  by  the  side  of  his  shop 
cultivated  a small  vegetable  garden,  which  he  called  the 
“ Lord’s  garden.”  With  the  proceeds  of  this  garden  he 
hired  a copyist,  not  being  able  to  write  himself,  to  copy 
out  portions  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  and  Christian  tracts, 
for  gratuitous  distribution  among  the  people.  In  this 
way  he  was  enabled  to  employ  a copyist  for  two  or  three 
months  in  the  year,  and  thus  silently  to  preach  the  gos- 
pel to  the  heathen,  while  with  living  lips  and  a loving 
heart  he  exhorted  his  neighbors  to  repentance  and  faith 
in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Thus,  in  the  midst  of  the 
surrounding  ignorance  and  paganism,  he  was  a living 
epistle  of  Christ  known  and  read  of  all  men. 

Another  illustration  of  the  working  of  the  gospel 
among  this  people,  is  found  in  the  case  of  a little  Chi- 
nese girl,  who,  under  the  instruction  of  Mrs.  Johnson 
at  Hong  Kong,  learned  to  read  her  native  language, 
and  was  brought  to  love  the  Saviour.  This  youthful 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


119 


disciple,  on  returning  to  her  friends  in  the  interior,  at- 
tracted great  interest,  and  it  was  the  wonder  of  all  that 
region,  that  here  was  a girl  who  could  read — and  when 
they  came  and  listened  to  the  doctrines  which  she  read 
and  explained  from  the  Bible,  they  were  awe-stricken, 
and  looked  upon  her  as  something  superhuman.  It  was 
at  first  feared  that  her  friends  and  kindred,  when  they 
came  to  learn  that  she  had  forsaken  the  religion  of  her 
fathers  and  adopted  the  creed  of  foreigners,  might  beat 
or  abuse  her;  but  when  they  heard  the  words  which 
proceeded  from  her  lips,  they  were  afraid  of  her,  and 
treated  her  with  the  greatest  respect. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Shuck  left  America  in  1835,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Reed  and  a large  party  of  missionaries  for 
Orissa  and  Burmah.  Drs.  Malcom  and  Sutton  were  also 
of  the  part}7.  They  touched  at  the  mouth  of  the  Hoogly, 
and  at  Maulmain,  where  most  of  the  missionaries  were 
landed.  Mr.  Sutton,  with  the  two  brethren,  Noyes  and 
Philips,  of  the  Freewill  Baptist  Missionary  Society, 
landed  at  the  former  place,  and  proceeded  to  their  sta- 
tions in  Orissa ; Mr.  and  Mrs.  Day  were  destined  to 
Madras ; Messrs.  Haswell  and  Ingalls  and  wives,  for 
Burmah  ; Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davenport  for  the  Siam  mission^ 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shuck  landed  at  Singapore.  There 
they  remained  for  a short  time,  and  proceeded  to  Macao, 
where  they  landed,  September,  1836.  While  at  Macao 
they  were  engaged  in  the  study  of  the  language,  and 
such  missionary  work  as  could  be  done  in  a private  way, 
the  government  having  prohibited  all  public  efforts  for 
the  diffusion  of  the  gospel.  The  government  of  Macao 
is  a peculiar  compound  of  Portuguese  and  Chinese,  each 


120 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


claiming  the  control  of  the  colony,  so  that  the  missionary 
was  watched  by  the  Chinese  mandarins  on  the  one  hand, 
and  the  Portuguese  officers  and  priests  on  the  other. 
Still,  he  was  allowed  to  engage  in  personal  conversation, 
and  give  instruction  to  such  as  called  at  his  house.  In 
1837,  Mr.  Shuck,  while  at  Macao,  baptized  a Chinese 
named  Ab  Loo,  who  for  a time  afforded  encouragement 
of  usefulness  to  his  countrymen,  but  in  1838  he  forsook 
us,  having  loved  the  present  world. 

The  English  having  taken  possession  of  the  island  of 
Hong  Kong,  and  commenced  a colony,  Mr.  Shuck  re- 
moved his  family  there  in  April,  1842,  when  Mrs.  Shuck 
was  the  only  European  lady  residing  in  the  colonj\ 

The  island  of  Hong  Kong,  being  about  one  hundred 
miles  south-east  from  Canton,  and  forty  miles  east  of  Ma- 
cao, is  situated  between  22°  and  22°  21'  north  latitude,  and 
114°  18'  east  from  the  meridian  of  Greenwich,  and  about 
2°  30'  west  of  the  meridian  of  Peking.  The  sailing  dis- 
tance around  the  island  is  about  twenty-seven  miles,  but 
by  following  the  exact  line  of  the  coast  and  winding 
around  all  the  little  bays  and  coves,  the  circuit  might  be 
nearly  twice  that  distance.  The  whole  island  is  one  ir- 
regular pile  of  granite  rock,  some  peaks  rising  abruptly 
to  the  height  of  eighteen  hundred  feet.  There  are  sev- 
eral little  fertile  valleys,  cultivated  by  the  Chinese  for 
gardens  or  rice-fields,  and  the  sides  of  the  hills  are  skirted 
in  some  places  with  groves  of  small  pine  trees,  and  in 
the  absence  of  these,  the  hills  are  covered  with  a coarse 
grass,  which  the  natives  use  for  fuel.  The  valleys  and 
dells  abound  with  springs  and  rivulets  of  excellent 
water,  and  though  the  tops  of  the  hills  appear  barren, 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


121 


their  sides  furnish  some  rare  specimens  of  flowers,  and 
the  whole  island  presents  a great  variety  of  views  as  ob- 
served from  different  stand-points,  and  affords  a very 
comfortable  and  healthy  place  of  residence  considering 
it  is  within  the  tropics.  The  harbor  between  it  and  the 
main  land  affords  a sheltered  and  safe  anchorage  for 
ships,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  continent,  as  they  walk 
about  their  towns  and  gardens,  are  easily  seen  from  the 
dwellings  in  Hong  Kong.  Ferry-boats  take  passengers 
in  a few  minutes,  and  for  a few  copper  cash,  from  the 
island  to  the  main  land. 

In  the  early  history  of  the  colony,  its  population  had 
reached  twenty  thousand  Chinese,  besides  a few  English, 
Americans,  French,  Portuguese,  Jews,  Parsees,  etc.  The 
English  troops  have  been  stationed  there,  including  some 
Sepoys  from  India,  and  aside  from  the  officers  of  the 
Queen’s  government,  there  have  been  at  Hong  Kong  a 
consul  for  the  United  States,  a Danish  consul,  a consular 
agent  for  Austria,  a French  consul,  etc.,  each  having  a 
national  flag  flying  over  his  office.  The  Portuguese  from 
Macao  have  in  several  instances  removed  to  Hong  Kong, 
some  Spaniards  from  Manila,  some  Malays  from  Singa- 
pore, and  Chinese  from  different  provinces,  speaking  dif- 
ferent dialects.  The  mission  of  Mr.  Shuck  and  Dr. 
Devan  was  among  those  speaking  the  Canton  dialect, 
while  Messrs.  Dean,  Johnson  and  Ashmore  have  labored 
among  those  speaking  the  Tie  Chiu  dialect.  These  two 
dialects  are  quite  unintelligible  to  each  other.  On  re- 
moving to  Hong  Kong,  Mr.  Shuck  put  up  a dwelling 
house,  of  mud  walls  and  tiled  roof,  a chapel,  called  the 
Queen’s  Road  Chapel,  and  soon  organized  a church  com- 

6 


122 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


posed  of  Europeans,  chiefly  from  the  members  of  the 
police  and  soldiers  of  the  army.  In  1844  several  Chinese 
were  baptized  and  added  to  this  church.  Among  them 
were  Luk  Seen-Sang,  Wang,  and  Yong  Seen-Sang. 
These  all  have  been  employed  as  native  assistants,  and 
the  last  mentioned  accompanied  Mr.  Shuck  to  the  United 
States  in  1846. 

A failure  of  the  house  in  Calcutta  through  which  the 
funds  of  the  society  were  sent  to  the  eastern  missions, 
occurred  about  the  time  Hong  Kong  was  occupied,  and 
a want  of  remittances  induced  Mr.  Shuck  to  accept  for  a 
time  an  offer  from  an  English  gentleman  to  aid  in  editing 
and  publishing  a paper,  while  he  continued  his  mission- 
ary work  as  usual. 

While  at  Hong  Kong  Mr.  Shuck,  in  addition  to  preach- 
ing in  English  on  the  Sabbath  at  the  Queen’s  Road 
Chapel,  conducted  Chinese  service  at  the  same  place,  and 
also  at  the  Bazar  Chapel,  as  well  as  holding  family  wor- 
ship in  the  native  language.  The  number  of  converts 
was  multiplied,  a school  house  was  built  in  1844,  and  a 
school  of  twenty  Chinese  boys  and  six  girls  was  gathered, 
in  which  Mrs.  Shuck  took  a lively  interest  and  performed 
an  important  part  in  its  instruction.  In  the  midst  of 
their  labors  and  prosperity,  Mrs.  Shuck  was  suddenly  cut 
down  and  laid  in  the  grave,  leaving  her  stricken  husband 
and  sorrowing  children  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a wife  and 
mother  of  rare  excellence,  and  a helper  in  the  mission  of 
great  promise.  Her  cheerful  face,  and  generous  impulses, 
and  wise  counsels,  and  multiplied  and  multiform  labors, 
added  largely  to  the  prosperity  of  the  mission,  and  the 
encouragement  of  her  companions  in  toil.  She  died  at 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


123 


Hong  Kong  November  27,  1844,  aged  twenty-seven 
years.  A memoir  of  her  was  prepared  by  Dr.  Jeter. 
In  the  early  part  of  1842  Mr.  Dean  removed  from 
Bangkok,  leaving  his  family  at  Macao  while  he  vis- 
ited Amoy  and  Chusan,  and  after  the  proclamation  of 
peace  between  the  Chinese  and  English,  and  the  signing 
of  the  Nanking  treaty,  which  opened  the  five  ports  to 
foreigners,  took  up  his  residence  at  Ilong  Kong,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1842.  Here  he  soon  commenced  religious  worship 
with  the  Chinese  speaking  the  Tie  Chiu  dialect,  and,  as 
recorded  in  the  Chinese  Repository,  vol.  xii.,  p.  440,  “a 
Chinese  church,  called  the  Tie  Chiu  church  of  Hong 
Kong,  was  constituted  on  the  28th  of  May,  1843,  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  William  Dean,  consisting 
of  three  members,  two  recently  baptized,  and  one  received 
from  the  Baptist  church  at  Bangkok,  Siam.” 

We  are  not  aware,  that  at  that  time,  there  were  other 
Protestant  churches  in  China  composed  of  Chinese  mem- 
bers. From  that  feeble  beginning  the  church  has  moved 
forward  with  slow  but  encouraging  progress,  occupying 
stations  at  Chekchu,  at  Long  Island,  and  on  the  main 
land,  and  employing  native  preachers  who  have  periled 
their  lives  in  giving  the  gospel  to  their  countrymen. 
From  this  church  were  the  two  men  A-ee  and  A Sun, 
who  for  their  fidelity  in  preaching  Christ,  were  impris- 
oned, bambooed  and  buffeted,  till  they  will  bear  the  scars 
of  honor  to  the  end  of  life.  A Sun  was  beaten  on  the 
mouth  by  order  of  a magistrate,  with  the  heavy  Chinese 
shoe,  till  his  teeth  were  loosened.  All  this  was  a pun- 
ishment for  preaching  the  cross  of  Christ,  and  defending 
the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.  After  being  incarcerated  for 


124 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


months  in  a Chinese  prison  called  geh — which  trans- 
lated signifies  hell — when  set  at  liberty  they  went  forth 
preaching  Christ,  “ rejoicing  that  they  were  counted 
worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  his  name.”  One  of  the  first 
members  of  this  church  was  Ko  A Bale,  who  accompa- 
nied the  writer  to  this  country  in  1835 ; another  was 
A Tui,  still  employed  as  a native  preacher,  who  was  first 
found  by  the  missionary  in  a mat-shed  on  the  hills  of 
Hong  Kong,  in  charge  of  sixty  or  seventy  men,  in  the 
employ  of  the  government,  engaged  in  grading  roads.  He 
was  a man  above  the  common  class  of  his  countrymen, 
and  during  the  first  visit  discovered  an  intelligent  interest 
in  inquiring  after  the  new  religion.  He  called  by  re- 
quest at  the  mission  house,  and  after  repeated  interviews 
and  a growing  interest  in  the  truths  of  the  gospel,  he 
came  to  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  though  in  the  em- 
ploy of  a Christian  government  which  in  many  instances 
at  that  time  carried  forward  their  public  and  private 
works  on  all  days  of  the  week,  though  we  are  happy  to 
record  that  public  works  are  now  suspended  on  the  Sab- 
bath, yet  this  A Tui,  then  just  emerging  from  the  dark- 
ness of  paganism,  though  at  great  pecuniary . sacrifice, 
left  his  work  on  the  Sabbath,  and  marched  his  men  to 
the  chapel  for  worship.  Thus  we  used  to  see  him  coming 
in  on  Sunday  morning,  with  from  fifty  to  a hundred 
men,  to  hear  the  gospel.  This  man  has  been  in  the  habit 
since  his  conversion,  of  giving  gratuitously  largely  of  his 
time  and  income  for  the  spread  of  Christianity.  At  one 
time  in  his  early  Christian  history,  in  attempting,  as  a 
peace-maker,  to  separate  two  contending  parties  engaged 
with  knives  in  the  conflict,  he  received  several  wounds, 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


125 


and  among  the  rest  a severe  gash,  extending  from  the 
mouth  through  the  cheek.  After  it  had  commenced 
healing,  and  while  he  could  speak  with  great  difficulty, 
he  inquired  of  the  surgeon  if  he  thought  it  would  heal  so 
he  could  kong  to  li  (speak  the  doctrine) . 

This  man  has  proved  a valued  helper  in  various  ways, 
and  during  the  absence  of  the  writer  to  the  United  States 
in  1845,  he  was  left  in  charge  of  the  mission  house,  and 
the  various  interests  of  the  mission,  while  Mr.  Shuck  and 
Dr.  Devan  removed  that  year  to  Canton,  taking  with  them 
the  Canton  department  of  the  mission.  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Devan  joined  the  China  mission  in  1844,  after  the  death 
of  Mrs.  Dean,  and  just  in  time  to  witness  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Shuck,  and  take  the  guardianship  of  her  motherless 
children.  Mr.  Shuck  soon  took  them  to  America,  and 
returned  with  a second  companion  to  labor  and  die  in 
China.  Mrs.  Devan,  during  her  brief  but  beneficent  mis- 
sion, was  a burning  and  shining  light,  shedding  a hal- 
lowed influence  upon  the  mission  company,  the  members 
of  the  foreign  community,  and  the  heathen  around  her. 
On  the  transfer  of  Messrs.  Shuck  and  Roberts  to  the 
Southern  Baptist  Board,  Dr.  Devan  was  preparing  to  re- 
turn to  Hong  Kong,  when  his  highly  accomplished  and 
eminently  Christian  companion  was  removed  to  her  home 
on  high.  She  died  at  Canton,  Sabbath  evening,  October 
18,  1846.  Dr.  Devan  soon  after  returned  home,  and  was 
afterwards  connected  with  the  French  mission. 

In  the  early  part  of  1848  the  mission  was  strengthened 
by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson  and  his  wife. 
The  senior,  and  then  the  only  member  of  the  mission, 
on  the  morning  of  the  5tli  of  January,  1848,  was  sitting 


126 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


in  his  mud-walled  cottage,  looking  over  the  Gospel  of 
Matthew,  which  he  had  translated  and  printed  with  ex- 
planatory notes,  and  was  about  ready  to  start  for  the 
chapel,  where  he  daily  met  a company  of  Chinese  for 
worship,  when  the  clink  of  the  chain,  and  the  plunge  of 
the  anchor,  attracted  his  attention  to  the  harbor,  where 
he  saw  unfurled  from  the  mast  of  a fine  ship  the  Amer- 
ican flag.  Having  been  long  alone,  far  from  kindred  and 
the  land  where  lived  his  children,  the  flag  of  his  country 
awakened  thoughts  of  those  loved  ones  far  away,  but  be- 
fore he  had  time  to  start  for  the  ship  and  ask  for  letters, 
the  Chinese  were  heard  at  the  door  with  the  joyful  tid- 
ing, Sin-se-lail — teachers  have  come!  He  hastened  on 
board,  and  there  met  his  old  friend  and  associate,  John 
Taylor  Jones,  and  his  new  colleague,  John  W.  Johnson, 
with  their  wives,  and  Miss  H.  H.  Morse.  These  were 
destined  to  the  Siamese  mission,  except  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Johnson.  Mrs.  Johnson  brought  to  the  mission  a mind 
of  high  cultivation  and  great  refinement,  with  a warm 
heart  and  generous  nature,  which  promised  great  assist- 
ance and  joy  to  her  associates  in  the  work.  Among  her 
qualifications  for  usefulness,  and  it  was  by  no  means  one 
of  little  importance  in  the  mission  field,  she  possessed 
great  musical  talents  and  cultivation.  The  sound  of 
some  of  the  Chinese  hymns  used  by  the  native  church 
were  written  off  in  Eoman  letters  so  that  she  could  read 
them,  and  she  commenced  with  great  interest  to  teach 
the  natives  to  sing,  and  thus  was  improving  the  music  in 
our  worship  and  the  music  of  our  little  dwelling.  The 
old  mud  cottage  which  had  so  long  been  the  abode  of 
silence  and  solitude,  was  made  to  echo  with  songs  of  joy 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


127 


and  the  voice  of  gladness.  But  our  joy  was  soon  turned 
to  tears.  Mrs.  Johnson  lived  to  bless  the  mission  with 
her  smile,  and  inspire  the  hope  of  happy  days  of  useful 
service,  but  in  less  than  half  a year  from  her  landing  in 
China  we  laid  her  in  her  grave,  and  Mr.  Johnson  and  his 
infant  boy  and  the  bereaved  mission  were  left  to  mourn 
her  loss.  But  the  God  who  mysteriously  removed  this 
gifted  woman,  mercifully  retained  for  the  benefit  of  the 
mission  her  widowed  husband.  Mr.  Johnson  came  to 
Hong  Kong,  when  his  services  were  greatly  needed,  and 
where  his  labors  have  been  abundant  and  successful. 
Combining  qualities  which  few  possess,  he  has  proved 
himself  eminently  fitted  for  his  position.  He  has  super- 
intended the  interests  of  the  mission,  some  of  the  time 
alone  and  in  peril.  During  the  late  war  he  was  exposed 
to  the  knife  of  the  assassin,  the  torch  of  the  incendiary, 
and  the  cup  of  the  poisoner,  while  the  native  preachers 
volunteered  to  watch  by  night  around  the  dwelling  of 
their  teacher.  God  has  graciously  guarded  him  from 
danger,  and  brought  him  to  this  country,  after  more  than 
ten  years  of  successful  service  in  China,  to  spread  the 
vast  and  open  field  before  our  churches,  and  to  awaken 
an  interest  throughout  our  land  in  the  China  mission, 
which  his  senior  associate  had  failed  to  accomplish. 
They  were  true  yoke-fellows  among  the  heathen,  and 
while  Mr.  Dean  was  engaged  in  translating  the  New 
Testament,  in  writing  explanatory  notes  on  the  books 
of  Genesis,  Exodus,  and  the  Gospel  of  Matthew,  Mr. 
Johnson  rendered  important  aid  in  the  general  work  of 
the  mission.  For  several  years  he  has  been  left  alone  in 
the  responsibilities  of  the  station,  conducting  the  ser- 


128 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


vices,  superintending  the  native  preachers,  directing  the 
schools,  and  managing  its  varied  interests.  He  has  been 
aided  by  the  native  preachers,  and  cheered  and  greatly 
helped  in  his  work  by  the  warm  sympathies  and  active 
cooperation  of  the  present  Mrs.  Johnson,  whom  the  Lord 
in  his  kind  providence  sent  to  him  from  Holland  in 
1851. 

It  is  expected,  with  the  increasing  facilities  for  inter- 
course with  China,  that  this  mission,  in  addition  to  sus- 
taining its  present  stations,  will  form  new  ones  at  the 
capital  of  the  Tie  Chiu  district  and  other  places  interior. 
The  great  want  now  is  for  men  to  go  forth  in  the  name  of 
their  Master,  to  make  known  the  gospel  to  the  millions 
upon  millions  of  that  empire.  This  station  at  Hong  Kong, 
as  connected  with  the  Tie  Chiu  people,  is  the  source  of 
light  and  Christian  instruction  to  a population,  speaking 
one  dialect  of  the  Chinese  language,  greater  than  the  en- 
tire population  of  Hew  England  and  the  State  of  Hew 
York  put  together ; a population  equal  to  the  entire 
population  of  Burmah  proper,  and  committed  especially 
to  the  Baptists  of  America,  as  their  missionaries  were  the 
first  to  learn  their  dialect,  and  for  many  years  the  only 
ones  to  preach  to  them  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ. 
Other  missionaries  have  since  come  in  to  share  in  the 
service,  and  we  rejoice  in  their  success  in  doing  them 
good,  while,  at  the  same  time,  the  field  offers  special  at- 
tractions and  peculiar  claims  to  the  Baptists  of  America. 
Mr.  Johnson  should  have,  at  least,  two  good  men  to  go 
back  with  him  for  the  Tie  Chiu  district,  besides  a rein- 
forcement for  the  station  at  Hingpo.  The  perishing 
heathen  demand  it,  the  awakened  sympathy  and  zeal  of 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


129 


the  churches  demand  it,  and  may  we  not  add,  Jesus 
Christ  demands  it. 

The  station  at  Hong  Kong,  in  its  early  history,  was 
occupied  by  Key.  I.  J.  Roberts,  who  before  resided  at 
Macao,  and  afterward  at  Canton  and  Shanghae.  He 
went  out  in  1836  under  the  Roberts  Fund  Society,  was 
afterward  connected  with  the  American  Baptist  Board, 
then  transferred  to  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention, 
and  is  now  connected  with  no  society. 

The  London  Missionary  Society  has  been  represented 
at  Hong  Kong  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Legge,  who  has  charge 
of  the  Anglo-Chinese  college, — the  Rev.  Messrs.  Gilles- 
pie, Cleland,  Chalmers,  and  Drs.  Hirschberg  and  Hob- 
son. The  latter  was  early  at  the  colony  and  conducted 
a Chinese  hospital,  where  the  lame  and  the  blind  were 
healed,  and  the  poor  had  the  gospel  preached  to  them. 
Dr.  Hirschberg  afterward  conducted  a similar  hospital 
at  Hong  Kong. 

The  Church  of  England  has  also  a mission  at  Hong 
Kong,  where  the  Bishop  of  Victoria  resides,  and  has 
under  his  charge  the  Chinese  students  of  St.  Paul’s 
college,  numbering  some  fifty  promising  young  men. 
He  has  had  a number  of  clergymen  from  England 
laboring  in  connection  with  him  at  Hong  Kong,  as 
well  as  the  superintendency  of  other  mission  stations  in 
China. 

The  Evangelical  Missionary  Society  of  Basle,  Switzer- 
land, has  been  represented  in  Hong  Kong  since  1847. 
Its  first  missionaries  were  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Hamberg  and 
Lechler,  who  were  afterward  joined  by  Mr.  Winnes.  Mr. 
Hamberg  died  at  his  station  in  1854.  His  loss  is  greatly 

6* 


130 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


felt  by  all  the  missionaries  as  well  as  by  bis  immediate 
associates  and  bis  own  society.  Mrs.  Lecbler  died  in 
1854,  and  in  1858  Mr.  Lecbler  visited  Germany.  Tbe 
Rhenish  Missionary  Society  bas  bad  at  Hong  Kong  tbe 
Rev.  Messrs.  Genaebr,  Krone,  Kdster,  Lobscbeid  and 
Louis. 

Tbe  Berlin  Missionary  Society  bas  sent  to  Hong 
Kong  Rev.  Messrs.  Neuman,  Hanspacb,  Ladendorf  and 
Doctor  Gocking. 

The  Rev.  Carl  Yogel  went  from  tbe  Cassel  Missionary 
Society,  Rev.  Yon  Gen  nap  from  Holland,  but  supported 
himself,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Pearcy  from  tbe  English  Wes- 
leyan Society.  Mr.  Pearcy  afterward  removed  to  Canton 
where  be  was  joined  by  others  from  bis  society. 

At  Hong  Kong  was  located,  on  one  of  its  many  bills, 
tbe  school  of  tbe  Morrison  Education  Society.  Tbe  so- 
ciety was  organized  September  28,  1836,  when  a consti- 
tution was  offered,  and  adopted  at  a subsequent  meeting, 
November  9,  1836.  Tbe  object  of  tbe  society,  accord- 
ing to  tbe  language  of  its  constitution,  was  to  improve 
and  promote  education  in  China  by  schools  and  other 
means.  It  was  composed  of  the  leading  merchants 
and  other  benevolent  gentlemen  in  China,  and  designed 
to  give  to  Chinese  youth  a knowledge  of  tbe  English 
language,  and,  open  to  them  tbe  world  of  literature  and 
science  through  that  medium,  while  by  its  name  it  should 
prove  a testimonial  to  the  first  Protestant  missionary  in 
China,  more  enduring  than  a monument  of  marble  or 
brass.  On  the  list  of  its  founders  we  notice  the  names 
of  Messrs.  Dent,  Jardine,  Otyphant,  and  other  leading 
men,  then  resident  in  China,  whose  hearts  have  ever  been 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


131 


in  sympathy  with  every  benevolent  object,  and  whose 
hands  have  liberally  contributed  to  their  promotion. 

February  19,  1839,  Rev.  S.  R.  Brown  reached  China 
as  teacher  of  the  school.  Mr.  Brown  was  a graduate  of 
Yale  College,  and  had  served  for  three  or  four  years  as 
professor  in  the  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  in 
New  York.  The  president  of  the  society,  at  the  third 
annual  meeting,  said,  in  his  opening  speech,  that  Mr. 
Brown  brought  testimonials  that  any  man  might  be 
proud  of,  and  then  proceeded  to  attach  great  importance 
to  the  influence  and  example  of  Mrs.  Brown  in  the  school. 
They  continued,  with  great  acceptance  to  the  society  and 
the  pupils,  their  services  till  January  4,  1847,  when  they 
embarked  for  America  with  their  two  little  children,  and 
three  of  their  Chinese  pupils,  viz.,  Ashing,  Awing,  and 
Afun,  to  complete  their  studies  in  England  and  America. 
One  of  these  graduated  at  Yale  College,  and  gained  a 
prize  for  the  best  English  composition ; another  took  a 
course  at  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  and  went  back 
to  China  as  a surgeon. 

Mr.  Brown  remained  in  the  United  States,  the  health  of 
his  family  not  admitting  of  a return  to  China  till  1859, 
when  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown,  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hepburn, 
sailed  for  Japan  as  missionaries.  Rev.  William  A.  Macy, 
now  a missionary  of  the  American  Board  in  China,  was, 
for  a time,  Mr.  Brown’s  successor  in  the  superintendency 
of  the  school  of  the  Morrison  Education  Society.  In  1845, 
the  society  reported  that  their  library  contained  seventy 
or  more  different  versions  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  sev- 
eral standard  works  on  jurisprudence,  government,  politi- 
cal economy,  and  commerce  ; especially  such  as  relate  to 


182 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


the  commerce  and  government  of  countries  in  the  Bast. 
The  section  on  geography,  voyages,  and  travels,  em- 
braces two  hundred  and  five  works  and  three  hundred 
and  seventy -three  volumes ; that  of  chronolog}r,  history, 
and  statistics,  two  hundred  and  fifty  works  in  five  hun- 
dred and  fifty-three  volumes ; a great  variety  of  memoirs, 
and  a generous  selection  of  poetry,  and  a rare  collection 
of  books  upon  the  language,  laws,  and  religion  of  the  Chi- 
nese, written  by  foreigners;  and  a more  extensive  and  bet- 
ter selected  set  of  Chinese  books  are  rarely  seen  together. 
To  this  last  department  of  the  library,  Dr.  Morrison,  and 
his  son,  the  Hon.  J.  E.  Morrison,  were  large  contributors. 


The  Mission  at  Canton. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  in  1845,  the  Canton 
department  of  the  Hong  Kong  mission,  under  the  care  of 
Messrs.  Shuck  and  Devan,  was  removed  to  the  city  of 
Canton,  where  it  was  well  introduced  before  the  visit  of 
the  former  to  the  United  States,  and  vigorously  prose- 
cuted by  the  latter.  Dr.  Devan  procured  a Chinese  house 
away  from  the  foreign  factories,  where  he  resided  with 
his  family,  gave  books,  and  conversed  with  the  people, 
and  preached  the  gospel  to  multitudes  daily.  A part  of 
his  residence  was  fitted  up  for  a chapel,  and  being  on 
one  of  the  thronged  thoroughfares  of  the  suburbs,  it  was 
no  difficult  matter  to  gather  a congregation.  As  a mat- 
ter of  course,  many  of  the  visitors  were  attracted  by  curi- 
osity to  see  the  foreigners,  but  they  heard  the  gospel, 
and  the  results  may  hereafter  be  read  in  the  records  on 
high. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


133 


The  Southern  Baptist  Convention  having  been  formed 
about  this  time,  adopted  Canton  as  one  of  their  stations, 
and  in  1836  sent  to  occupy  it  Bev.  Samuel  C.  Clapton, 
and  George  Pearcy,  with  their  wives.  They  went  into 
the  establishment  formerly  occupied  by  Dr.  Devan,  as 
the  Missionary  Union  relinquished  that  city  to  the  South- 
ern Convention.  They  found  there  Rev.  I.  J.  Roberts, 
then  connected  with  their  society,  occupying  premises 
which"  he  had  in  another  part  of  the  suburbs  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  a mile  or  two  below  the  foreign 
factories.  In  1847  this  mission  was  joined  by  Rev. 
Francis  C.  Johnson,  a son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Johnson  of 
South  Carolina,  who  labored  at  Canton  for  two  years, 
and  returned  to  the  United  States. 

In  1849  the  same  society  sent  the  Rev.  B.  W.  Whil- 
den  and  family  to  Canton,  where  Mrs.  Whilden  died  in 
1851.  He  visited  this  country,  remarried  and  returned 
to  China,  where  he  labored  with  great  devotion  and 
fidelity  till  1855,  when  the  health  of  his  family  made  it 
necessary  for  him  to  return  again  to  America.  A Chi- 
nese youth  who  attended  him  to  this  country  the  last 
time,  spent  a year  with  the  writer  in  the  valley  of  Wy- 
oming, but  during  the  severe  winter  of  1857,  taking 
alarm  lest  he  should  be  “ snowed  under,”  hastened  back 
to  China. 

In  1854,  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention  sent  the 
Rev.  C.  W.  Gaillard  to  Canton,  and  in  1856  the  Rev.  R. 
H.  Graves.  The  society  have  at  Canton  a wide  field  for 
doing  good,  which  its  representatives  have  discovered 
commendable  zeal  in  cultivating. 

Mr.  Roberts  was  the  first  Baptist  missionary  to  reside 


131 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


at  Canton.  There  lie  procured  a building  lot,  erected  a 
house,  used  both  for  a dwelling  and  a chapel,  and  there 
he  had  under  his  instruction  for  a few  weeks  the  far- 
famed  Tai  Peng  Wang,  the  leader  of  the  Chinese  rebel- 
lion. He  was  requested  to  give  him  Christian  baptism, 
but  the  candidate  did  not  afford  him  satisfactory  proof 
of  true  conversion  to  be  admitted  into  the  church. 

A brief  history  of  this  pretender  to  the  Chinese  throne 
is  given  in  the  preceding  pages. 

Another  branch  of  the  China  mission  occupied  by  the 
American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  is  located  at  Ningpo. 

The  city  of  Ningpo,  in  30°  north  latitude,  is  about 
half  as  large  as  Canton,  and  the  latter  is  estimated  to 
contain  a million  of  people.  Ningpo  is  situated  at  the 
confluence  of  two  large  rivers,  one  of  which  runs  from 
the  north-west  and  the  other  from  the  south-west,  leav- 
ing the  city  surrounded  on  two  sides  by  rivers,  and  in 
the  center  of  a beautiful  plain  twenty-five  or  thirty 
miles  in  diameter,  dotted  over  with  villages  and  farm- 
houses, and  bounded  by  a circuit  of  hills  broken  only 
for  the  flow  of  the  rivers,  which,  a few  miles  below  the 
city,  find  an  outlet  in  Haug-Chau  bay.  The  rice  fields 
of  the  plain  during  the  summer  have  to  some  extent  en- 
couraged intermittents  and  diarrhoea,  but  the  winters 
are  severely  cold,  with  snow  and  ice,  and  the  climate  is 
regarded  as  healthy. 

Our  first  missionary  there  was  Dr.  D.  J.  Macgowan, 
who  went  to  China  in  1843.  For  a time,  he  was  the 
only  Protestant  missionary  residing  at  Ningpo,  but  the 
English  occupied  it  as  one  of  their  consular  ports,  and  it 
has  since  been  the  residence  of  a consular  agent.  Dr. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


135 


Macgowan  at  once  commenced  the  study  of  the  language, 
the  dialect  spoken  there  being  unlike  that  used  by  either 
of  the  other  branches  of  the  China  mission  in  the  Canton 
or  the  Tie  Chiu  dialect.  He  also  opened  a hospital  for 
the  cure  of  the  sick,  which  he  has  since  continued  open, 
and  where  he  has  treated  many  thousands  of  patients,  to 
whom  he  has  also  given  Christian  books  and  religious 
instruction. 

He  made  the  acquaintance  of  Mrs.  Macgowan,  then  a 
member  of  the  family  of  the  Rev.  Baptist  Noel,  while 
in  Paris,  and  after  commencing  his  mission  at  Ningpo 
he  visited  India,  where  he  met  her  at  the  house  of  her 
brother,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Osborne,  a missionary  of  the  En- 
glish Church,  and  returned  to  China  with  Mrs.  Macgowan 
in  1814.* 

In  1847  the  Rev.  E.  C.  Lord  and  wife  joined  the 
Ningpo  mission.  Mrs.  Lord,  a niece  of  Miss  Lyon,  the 
late  preceptress  of  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary,  lived  to 
commence  her  work  and  to  give  promise  of  great  use- 
fulness in  the  mission,  and  was  then  called  away.  A 
memoir  of  her  life  has  been  published.  Mr.  Lord  con- 
tinues his  efficient  labors  in  the  various  branches  of  mis- 
sionary work,  and  if  patient  plodding  will  do  any  thing 
with  the  Chinese  language  and  the  China  mission — and 
surely  nothing  can  be  done  without  it — then  it  may  be 
expected  that  Mr.  Lord  will  not  labor  in  vain. 

In  1848  the  Rev.  Mr.  Goddard  removed  his  family  from 
Bangkok  to  Ningpo.  There  he  learned  the  local  dialect 
so  as  to  preach  in  it,  which  was  nearly  equal  to  learning 

* Dr.  Macgowan  has  recently  gone  to  Japan  on  a mission  of  explora 
tion. 


136 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  speak  a new  language,  and  there  he  carried  forward 
to  completion  his  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into 
Chinese,  and  there,  September  4th,  1854,  he  ended  his 
eminently  useful  life.  He  was  highly  successful  as  a 
translator,  and  by  his  studies  and  native  endowments, 
was  fitted  to  go  on  with  the  translation  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, which  he  had  already  commenced  after  completing 
the  New.  He  had  suffered  from  repeated  attacks  of 
bleeding  from  the  lungs,  which,  complicated  with  other 
disease,  induced  by  the  climate  and  severe  toil,  carried 
him  away  in  the  prime  of  life  and  in  the  highest  measure 
of  his  usefulness.  Mrs.  Goddard  returned  to  the  United 
States,  and  died  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  but  her  son  and 
daughters  survive.  May  they  receive  the  power  of  doing 
good,  and  follow  the  path  of  usefulness  in  which  their 
parents  walked  to  heaven. 

A brief  sketch  of  Mr.  Goddard’s  life  and  labors  may 
be  found  in  the  present  volume.  See  biographical 
sketches. 

In  1854  the  Rev.  M.  J.  Knowlton  joined  the  China 
mission,  and  was  located  at  Ningpo.  His  labors  have 
been  abundant  and  successful  both  at  Ningpo  and  also 
on  the  neighboring  island  of  Chusan,  where  a second 
church  has  recently  been  organized. 

Ningpo  offers  one  of  the  most  interesting  fields  for 
missionary  work  to  be  found  in  China.  The  people  are 
more  wealthy,  more  cultivated  and. better  educated  than 
in  many  of  the  other  cities  of  the  empire,  and  the  loca- 
tion, while  of  easy  access  by  sea  and  land,  and  surround- 
ed by  the  tea  hills  and  the  silk  manufacturing  districts, 
is  nevertheless  a comparatively  quiet  place,  if  such  a 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


137 


term  is  applicable  to  any  place  occupied  by  Chinamen. 
Their  cities  all  may  be  compared  to  mammoth  bee-hives, 
the  houses  about  as  compact,  and  somewhat  after  the 
order  of  the  cells,  and  presenting  a constant  motion  and 
buzzing  from  the  earliest  day-dawn  till  the  darkness  of 
night. 

At  Ningpo  are  located  other  missions.  The  American 
Presbyterian  Board  have  there  their  stronghold  for  Chi- 
na, including  chapels,  schools,  and  an  extensive  printing 
establishment,  with  fonts  of  type  in  English  and  Chinese. 

Their  first  representative  at  ISTingpo  was  the  Rev.  D. 
B.  M’Cartee,  M.  D.,  a nephew  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bethune. 
He  opened  a hospital  and  a chapel  for  the  Chinese,  and 
in  connection  with  Dr.  Macgowan  supplied  with  med- 
ical service  the  foreign  community  of  Ningpo.  These 
two  gentlemen  have  also  performed  valuable  service  to 
their  countrymen  and  the  Chinese  as  interpreters,  and 
by  furnishing  the  public  with  important  papers  on  a va- 
riety of  scientific  and  practical  subjects. 

There  have  been  associated  with  Dr.  M’Cartee,  from 
the  same  society,  the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Way,  who  went 
out  in  1844,  the  Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis  and  wife,  who  also 
went  to  China  the  same  year.  The  latter  family  after 
performing  good  service  for  the  mission,  were  forced 
by  failing  health  to  return  to  their  native  country  in 
1849. 

The  Rev.  J.  W.  Quarterman  joined  the  mission  in 
1846,  and  died  at  ISTingpo,  of  small-pox,  October  13, 
1857.  In  1849  the  station  was  reinforced  by  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Wight  and  Rankin,  and  their  wives.  Mr.  Wight 
was  .afterwards  stationed  at  Shanghae,  and  returned  to 


138 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


America  in  1857.  Mr.  Coulter  went  out  in  1849  as  su- 
perintendent of  tlie  press.  He  died  in  1854. 

In  1850  two  brothers,  the  Rev.  S.  N.  and  W.  A.  P. 
Martin,  and  wives,  joined  the  mission,  and  in  1856  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Inslee  was  added  to  their  company,  and  in  1858 
Mr.  E.  Gamble  was  sent  out  to  take  charge  of  the  press. 
Mr.  Richard  Cole  went  out  under  this  society  in  1844, 
and  had  charge  of  their  press  at  Ningpo,  and  afterwards 
performed  important  service  for  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  in  their  printing  office  and  type  foundry  at 
Hong  Kong.  The  Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  a leading 
man  in  their  mission,  went  to  China  in  1842,  and  was 
finally  stationed  at  Ningpo.  While  engaged  with  Dr. 
Bridgman,  Bishop  Boone  and  others,  in  the  revision  of 
the  Scriptures,  he  had  occasion  to  go  from  Shanghae  to 
Ningpo,  when  he  was  killed  by  pirates  while  crossing 
Hang  Chau  Bay,  in  1847.  An  excellent  memoir  of  his 
life  has  been  published  by  his  father,  the  Hon.  Walter 
Lowrie,  and  secretary  of  the  society.  That  society  had 
been  represented  in  the  China  mission  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Mitchell,  who  died  soon  after  landing  at  Singapore  in 
1838.  The  Rev.  W.  Orr,  who  went  out  the  same  year, 
visited  Singapore  and  Siam,  and  returned  to  the  United 
States  in  1841.  The  Rev.  Thomas  L.  M’Bride  joined  the 
mission  in  1840,  was  stationed  at  Singapore  and  Amoy, 
and  returned  to  the  United  States  in  1843.  Dr.  Hep- 
burn went  out  in  1841,  was  located  at  first  at  Singapore, 
and  afterwards  conducted  a hospital  at  Amoy.  He  re- 
turned to  America  in  1845.  These  gentlemen  who  have 
retired  from  the  foreign  service,  have  done  so  in  conse- 
quence of  failing  .health.  This  society  had  a devoted 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


139 


missionary  in  the  Rev.  John  Lloyd,  who  labored  at 
Amoy  from  1844  to  1848,  and  then  went  to  the  reward 
of  the  faithful. 

In  1844  the  Rev.  A.  P.  Happer,  M.  D.,  was  sent  to 
Canton,  where,  in  1846,  he  had  as  associate,  the  Rev. 
William  Speer,  who  has  since  labored  among  the  Chi- 
nese at  California,  and  the  Rev.  J.  B.  French,  who  fin- 
ished his  work  at  Canton  in  1859,  and  died  at  sea  on  his 
passage  home. 

Ours  is  a painful  task  to  record  the  death  at  sea  of  so 
many  of  our  esteemed  associates  in  the  China  mission. 
Men  and  women  have  there  expended  the  strength  of 
their  lives,  and  then  crept,  or  have  been  carried,  on 
board  ship,  with  the  hope  that  the  smell  of  the  sea  air 
might  revive  their  wasted  energies,  and  the  healthful  in- 
fluences of  their  native  land  might  restore  them  again  to 
working  health.  Some  realize  their  fond  hopes  ; others 
reach  their  native  land  to  spend  the  remainder  of  life  in 
a premature  decrepitude ; while  many  die  in  the  ship, 
and  are  buried  in  the  sea,  before  they  reach  their  native 
shores. 

The  General  Baptist  Missionary  Society  of  England 
was  represented  at  Ningpo  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Hudson,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jarrom,  who  went 
to  China  in  1845.  Mrs.  Jarrom  died  at  Ningpo,  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1848,  and  Mr.  Jarrom  returned  to  England  in 
1850,  and,  so  far  as  we  are  informed,  the  mission  has 
not  since  been  reinforced.  Mr.  Hudson  gave  some  at- 
tention to  a revision  of  Dr.  Marshman’s  version  of  the 
Scriptures  in  Chinese,  and  his  son,  a young  man  of 
promise,  rendered  him  at  one  time  some  aid  in  the  mis- 


140 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


sion.  Old  Mr.  Hudson  had  before  served  the  society  as 
a missionary  at  another  station.' 

The  Church  Missionary  Society  of  England  com- 
menced a mission  at  Ningpo,  by  sending  there  in  1848 
the  Rev.  Messrs.  Cobbold  and  Russel,  who  were  joined 
in  1850  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Gough,  and  in  1858  by  the 
Rev.  George  E.  Moule. 

An  important  work  has  been  done  at  Ningpo  by  Miss 
Aldersey,  a lady  of  great  benevolence  and  energy  of 
character,  who  came  from  England  in  1837,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Female  Edu- 
cation in  the  East.  Miss  Aldersey  had  some  part  in  the 
management  of  the  society  in  England,  and  as  soon  as 
circumstances  would  permit  her  to  leave  home,  she  went 
abroad  to  put  in  practice  her  plans  in  person  among  the 
heathen.  She  first  stopped  at  Java,  where  she  opened  a 
school,  and  for  several  years  labored  with  great  zeal  and 
success  for  the  education  of  females.  After  the  ports 
in  China  were  opened  to  foreigners,  she  removed  to 
Ningpo,  taking  with  her  two  of  her  pupils,  who  had 
embraced  Christianity,  and  who  have  since  been  doing- 
good. 

One  of  these  was  afterwards  married  to  a Christian  Chi- 
nese, in  the  employ  of  the  London  Missionary  Society 
at  Shanghae.  The  writer  was  much  interested  in  see- 
ing this  newly  married  couple  at  Shanghae,  on  a Sabbath 
morning,  walking  to  church  in  a Christian  way,  side 
by  side,  and  not  in  single  file,  as  is  common  among 
pagans ; when  the  wife,  if  she  even  walks  in  company 
with  her  husband  at  all,  is  expectod  to  walk  behind 
him. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


141 


Miss  Aldersej  has  supported  a flourishing  girls’  school 
in  China,  chiefly  from  her  own  private  funds,  furnishing 
teachers  to  assist  in  the  instruction,  and  food  and  cloth- 
ing for  the  pupils.  They  are  taught  the  common 
branches  of  education,  with  plain  needle-work  and  em- 
broidery, with  the  endeavor  to  fit  them  for  the  active 
duties  of  life,  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  carefully 
instructed  in  the  truths  of  Christianity  daily,  and  some 
one  of  the  missionary  gentlemen  at  the  station  preaches 
to  them  on  the  Sabbath.  The  writer  had  the  pleasure 
of  visiting  the  school  in  the  winter  of  1848,  and  retains 
in  memory  a pleasing  impression  of  the  school,  regard- 
ing it  as  a successful  endeavor  aimed  in  the  right  direc- 
tion for  the  moral  renovation  of  China — viz.,  a cure  for 
the  ignorance  and  corruption  of  Chinese  mothers.  A 
good  beginning  has  been  made  in  this  important  work 
of  female  education  in  Chinese,  by  some  of  the  foreign 
ladies  connected  with  the  various  Protestant  missions. 
This  brings  to  mind  an  encouraging  effort  made  by  the 
wife  of  Ko  A Bak,  in  connection  with  the  mission  at 
Hong  Kong.  Soon  after  the  visit  of  Ko  A Bak  to 
the  United  States,  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  find,  on 
his  return  to  China,  a Chinese  woman  who  had  learned 
from  her  father  how  to  read.  This  woman,  thus  distin- 
guished from  the  generality  of  her  sex,  was  attracted  by 
curiosity  to  converse  with  one  of  her  countrymen  who 
had  traveled  abroad,  and  he  by  nearly  an  equal  cur- 
iosity to  converse  with  one  of  his  countrywomen  who 
could  read  and  write  her  own  language.  This  acquaint- 
ance resulted  in  a proposition  from  him  that  .she  become 
his  wife,  which  he  was  at  liberty  to  make  since  his  father 


142 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


was  dead,  and  he  was  the  eldest  son,  and  she  was  at 
liberty  to  accept,  since  her  father  was  dead,  and  she  was 
a widow.  This  woman,  before  her  marriage,  had  given 
up  all  the  rites  of  pagan  worship,  and  embraced  the  ex- 
ternal forms  of  the  Christian  religion,  though  not  then 
born  again.  Sometime  after  her  marriage,  she  afforded 
evidence  of  true  piety,  and  became  a member  of  the  Tie 
Chiu  church  at  Hong  Kong.  During  the  week  after 
her  baptism,  she  sent  in  a request  to  her  pastor  that  she 
might  teach  a class  of  Chinese  girls.  This  request  was 
joyfully  granted,  but  with  the  thought  that  it  could  not 
be  put  in  execution.  The  Chinese  girls  had  often  been 
seen  in  servile  labor  or  idly  wasting  their  time,  and  when 
asked  by  missionaries,  if  they  would  come  to  school, 
would  answer,  “I  am  a girl,”  as  much  as  to  say,  You 
don’t  expect  a girl  to  learn  to  read  ? We  therefore  had 
little  expectation  that  this  Chinese  woman  would  get  up 
a Chinese  girls’  school.  But  she  did — and  so  far  as  we 
know,  it  was  the  first  of  the  kind  in  China.  Foreign 
ladies  had  taught  schools  of  Chinese  girls — but  for  a 
Chinese  woman  to  teach  a Chinese  girls’  school,  was  a 
new  thing  under  the  sun.  Sure  enough,  the  next  Sab- 
bath morning,  while  the  missionary  sat  alone  in  his  mud- 
wall  cottage,  in  marched  a troop  of  Chinese  girls,  and 
their  teacher  and  her  husband  after  them,  and  formed  a 
line  of  bright-eyed  girls,  apparently  eight  or  ten  years 
old,  having  their  jackets  washed  and  mended,  their  hair 
newly  braided,  but  without  hats  or  shoes.  On  inquiry, 
it  was  found  that  they  could  tell  who  the  mother  of  Jesus 
was,  and  that  he  died  for  the  world,  and  then  each  in 
turn  repeated  the  first  of  the  ten  commandments. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


148 


This  was  thought  to  be  a too  favorable  beginning  to 
continue;  but  here  our  faith  was  more  than  realized,  for 
the  school  went  on  and  prospered,  and  the  example  of 
this  Avoman  stimulated  the  zeal  of  others.  Not  long 
after,  the  Avife  of  the  Chinese  deacon  came  to  the  teacher 
for  permission  to  start  a school,  and  a second  class  of 
Chinese  girls  was  brought  under  instruction  by  a Chi- 
nese woman,  Avho  herself  had  learned  to  read  her  oAvn 
language  after  she  became  a member  of  the  church. 
These  are  very  humble  beginnings  in  view  of  the  vast 
work  to  be  done  before  the  Chinese  are  furnished  Avith 
a healthful  maternal  influence ; but  the  effort  looks  in 
the  right  direction,  and  before  Christianity  has  gained 
any  great  achievements  in  China,  we  expect  to  see  the 
wife,  the  daughter  and  the  sister,  restored  to  a place  at 
the  domestic  board  with  the  husband,  the  son,  the  broth- 
er. The  daughter  will  have  a place  in  the  school  room, 
and  the  sister  a place  and  a part  in  the  social  circle.  At 
first,  and  for  many  years  after,  our  Sabbath  assemblies  in 
China  were  composed  exclusively  of  men  and  boys ; and 
if  invited  to  dine  with  a Chinese  friend  Ave  never  met 
his  wife,  or  daughter,  or  sister  at  the  table.  These  were 
kept  in  their  appropriate  apartments — to  serve  in  the 
kitchen,  or  perform  still  more  menial  work — and  were 
looked  upon  as  the  slaves  rather  than  the  companions  of 
their  husbands  or  brothers. 

Shanghae,  i.  e.,  above  the  sea , is  the  next  station  as 
we  proceed  northward  from  Ningpo.  The  city  of  Shang- 
hae is  in  latitude  31°  24'  north,  and  longitude  121°  32' 
east.  It  stands  on  the  west  banks  of  the  Woo-sung 
river,  which  runs  north  thence  twenty-five  miles,  and 


144 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


empties  in  the  Yangtsze  Kiang,  about  forty  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  latter.  This  Yangtsze  Kiang  (son  of 
the  ocean)  and  the  Hwang-ho  (yellow  river)  rising  near 
together  from  the  lakes  of  Koko-nor,  then  spreading  so 
wide  apart  as  to  furnish  irrigation  and  drainage  to  al- 
most the  entire  area  of  the  eighteen  provinces  of  China, 
finally  empty  near  together  into  the  Yellow  Sea,  between 
32°  and  35°  north  latitude.  Five  hundred  years  before 
the  Christian  era,  when  Confucius  lived  and  wrote,  the 
region  of  Shanghae  belonged  to  Woo,  and  afterwards  be- 
came one  of  the  Three  Slates  so  celebrated  in  Chinese 
history.  The  river  Woo-sung  is  navigable  as  far  up  as 
Shanghae  for  large  ships,  and  in  front  of  the  city  its 
waters  are  covered  with  a forest  of  masts,  rising  from 
the  native  boats  and  junks.  The  city  being  of  a some- 
what oval  form  is  surrounded  by  a wall  of  bricks  and 
mud  about  twenty  feet  high  and  twelve  or  fifteen  feet  in 
thickness,  and  measuring  in  circuit  a little  less  than  four 
miles.  The  city  and  suburbs  are  estimated  to  contain 
about  four  hundred  thousand  inhabitants.  A moat  sur- 
rounds the  city  outside  the  walls,  as  is  the  case  with  most 
Chinese  cities,  and  canals  pass  through  the  water  gates 
♦ to  the  four  quarters  of  the  city — but  these  canals  are 
sometimes  greatly  obstructed  by  the  filth  from  the  city. 
The  surrounding  country  is  level  and  the  soil  rich  and 
productive.  The  streets  are  irregular  and  filthy,  varying 
from  six  to  fifteen  feet  in  width.  The  houses,  generally 
of  the  tent  form,  vary  from  the  hovel  a few  feet  square, 
covered  with  tiles  or  thatch,  to  buildings  of  larger  dimen- 
sions— but  all  are  ill  constructed,  and  to  the  eye  of  a 
European  convey  the  idea  of  discomfort.  The  Chinese 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


145 


have  been  reproached  as  “ a nation  without  shirts,  streets 
or  table  linen,”  and,  we  might  add,  without  houses. 

Shanghae  has  the  usual  variety  of  schools,  temples, 
nunneries,  foundling  hospitals,  burying  grounds,  with 
the  coffins  on  the  surface  instead  of  under  the  sod,  as 
are  found  in  most  of  the  large  cities  in  the  north  and 
cental  parts  of  China. 

The  great  exports  are  tea  and  silk,  of  which  the  sur- 
rounding region  furnishes  a large  supply.  What  are 
called  the  Nanking  silks,  and  the  fine  fabrics  from  Su- 
chau,  find  an  outlet  to  foreign  countries  from  this  port. 

Fields  of  cotton  are  common  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Shanghae,  and  furs  are  in  common  use  in  the  winter, 
when  the  winds  from  the  north  and  east  are  extremely 
searching  and  severe.  The  extremes  ef  temperature  are 
marked  by  the  thermometer  at  120°  in  summer  and  12° 
in  winter.  In  this  region  the  people  wear  double  jackets 
wadded  with  cotton,  for  the  lower  classes,  while  the  higher 
classes  wear,  over  a number  of  cotton  and  woolen  gar- 
ments, a long  robe,  having  fur  for  one  side  and  a strong 
silken  fabric  for  the  other,  and  the  robe  may  be  worn 
either  side  out,  according  to  the  weather  or  the  fancy  of 
the  wearer.  These  are  often  used  during  the  winter,  and . 
if  the  owner  be  in  want  of  funds,  the  garment  is  put  into 
a pawnbroker’s  establishment  to  be  redeemed  on  the  re- 
turn of  cold  weather  or  sold  to  some  other  person.  Dur- 
ing the  late  wars  with  China,  the  European  seamen  and 
soldiers  gained  large  prizes  by  takiug  possession  of  some 
of  these  shops,  and  filling  their  trunks  with  valuable 
silks  and  furs. 

As  a mission  station,  Shanghae  offers  a wide  and  prom- 

7 


146 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ising  field  to  the  Christian  world.  Since  the  opening  of 
the  port  in  1842,  there  have  been  there  representatives 
of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  in  the  persons  of  Rev. 
Dr.  Medhurst,  Rev.  W.  C.  Milne  (son  of  the  late  Dr. 
Milne),  Dr.  Lockhart,  Rev.  Messrs.  Fairbrother,  Muir- 
head,  Southwell,  Edkins,  Williamson,  Griffith,  John,  Mr. 
Wylie,  and  others.  Among  the  members  of  the  Church 
Missionary  Society,  may  be  named  Rev.  Messrs.  Mc- 
Clatchie,  Farmer,  Hobson,  Burdon,  Reeve,  and  Dr,  Col- 
lins. 

The  American  Episcopal  Board  of  Foreign  Missions 
has  been  represented  by  Bishop  Boone,  Rev.  Messrs. 
Syle,  Spaulding,  Woods,  Graham,  Keith,  NelsoD,  Points, 
Liggins,  Williams,  and  Dr.  Fish,  besides  a company  of 
honorable  women,  who  have  done  good  service  in  their 
mission  schools. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bridgman,  of  the  American  Board  of 
Commissioners,  removed  from  Canton  several  years  ago, 
and  as  associates  from  that  society,  they  have  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Blodget  and  Aitchison. 

The  American  Presbyterian  Board  have  had  mission- 
aries at  Shanghae,  among  whom  are  Rev.  Messrs.  Culbert- 
son, Wight,  R.  Lowrie,  Byers,  Mills,  and  Galley.  The 
late  Walter  M.  Lowrie  spent  some  time  at  Shanghae, 
while  engaged  in  the  revision  of  the  Scriptures,  but 
Ningpo  was  his  station. 

The  Seventh  Day  Baptists  commenced  a mission  at 
Shanghae,  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Carpenter  and  Wardner, 
who  reached  China  in  1847.  It  was  intimated  on  their 
arrival,  that  if  they  had  sailed  to  China  around  Cape 
Horn,  instead  of  Cape  Good  Hope,  they  might,  by  losing 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


147 


a day,  have  brought  their  Sabbath  on  the  first  day  of  the 
week.  These  excellent  brethren  have  labored  very  faith- 
fully and  with  some  encouragement  in  their  work.  Mr. 
Wardner  has  since  visited  the  United  States,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  failing  health  of  Mrs.  Wardner.  We  met 
him  last  year  at  Alfred,  IST.  Y.,  where  the  Seventh  Day 
friends  have  a flourishing  literary  institution. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Yoegler,  of  the  Pomeranian  Missionary 
Society,  reached  Shanghae  in  1858. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  commenced 
a mission  at  Shanghae  in  1848  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Tay- 
lor and  Jenkins.  The  station  has  since  been  reinforced 
by  Dr.  Kelly  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Belton,  Lambeth  and 
Cunnyngham. 

The  Chinese  Evangelical  Society  of  England  have  had 
a station  at  Shanghae,  occupied  by  the  Rev.  J.  H.  Tay- 
lor and  Dr.  W.  Parker  since  1854.  This  society  had 
also  an  agent  at  Hong  Kong,  who  was  afterward  em- 
ployed in  teaching  an  English  school  at  that  station. 
They  are  represented  at  Uingpo  by  Messrs.  Jones  and 
Hall,  and  at  Penang  by  Dr.  Pruin. 

In  1847  the  Rev.  Mr.  Shuck,  after  his  return  from 
America  with  his  second  wife,  in  company  with  the  Rev.  * 
Messrs.  Yates  and  Toby,  commenced  a mission  at  Shang- 
hae in  behalf  of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention.  Mr. 
Shuck  had  to  learn  a new  dialect  of  Chinese,  which  was 
as  different  from  the  dialect  he  employed  at  Canton  as 
another  language,  so  far  as  speaking  was  concerned,  but 
he  was  in  due  time  enabled  to  preach  the  gospel  to  the 
people  of  Shanghae  in  their  own  dialect.  A church, 
edifice  and  chapels  were  erected,  and  a church  organized, 


148 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


which,  has  latterly  been  greatly  prospered  under  the  la- 
bors of  Mr.  Yates  and  bis  compeers.  Mr.  Toby,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  failing  health  of  Mrs.  Toby  (a  sister  of 
the  first  Mrs.  Shuck)  was  obliged  soon  to  return  to  the 
United  States.  Mr.  Shuck,  after  the  death  of  his  second 
wife,  returned  to  America,  and  is  now  laboring  with  the 
Chinese  in  California. 

Their  mission  at  Shanghae  was  afterward  joined  by 
the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearcy  from  the  Canton  station. 
In  1848  Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  went  out  to  the  Shang- 
hae mission,  but  before  reaching  their  destination  were 
drowned  in  the  harbor  of  Hong  Kong  while  returning 
from  a visit  to  Canton.  In  1852  the  Rev.  Mr.  Crawford 
and  Dr.  Burton  joined  the  Shanghae  mission.  Mrs.  Bur- 
ton is  a daughter  of  Rev.  Cephas  Bennett  of  the  Burman 
mission.  In  1853  the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cabaniss  went 
to  their  aid. 

In  1855  the  Rev.  Mr.  Klockers,  of  the  Netherlands 
Evangelical  Society,  came  to  Shanghae.  Mrs.  K.  died  in 
November  of  the  same  year,  and  Mr.  K.  retired  in  1858, 
leaving  now  no  representative  of  that  society  in  China. 
The  first  agent  from  Netherlands  was  the  Rev.  Charles 
Gutzlaff,  who  went  out  in  1827,  remained  in  the  service 
of  the  society  for  one  year,  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  life  in  the  employ  of  the  British  Government  as  in- 
terpreter and  Chinese  secretary,  and  died  at  Hong  Kong, 
1851.  He  performed  a great  variety  of  labor,  profes- 
sional, literary  and  missionary,  the.  latter  unconnected 
with  any  society,  except  the  first  year  of  his  residence  in 
the  East,  and  in  a way  peculiarly  his  own.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  mental  energy  and  of  great  activity  of 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


149 


body,  till  the  last  years  of  his  life,  when  he  was  prevent- 
ed by  the  gout  from  his  former  agility.  He  left  for  his 
widow,  the  third  wife,  a comfortable  income,  acquired 
by  his  services  for  the  English  Government.  He  trans- 
lated the  Scriptures  into  the  Chinese  language,  and  pre- 
pared a variety  of  tracts  on  religious  subjects.  In  all  his 
writings,  as  well  as  his  instructions  to  the  people,  there 
are  marks  of,  what  was  true  in  fact,  great  haste. 

The  Netherlands  Missionary  Society,  under  whose 
auspices  he  first  went  abroad,  is  not  the  same  as  the 
one  above,  under  the  title  of  the  Netherlands  Evan- 
gelical Society,  which  is  of  modern  origin,  and  seems  to 
have  been  formed  with  special  reference  to  the  evangeli- 
zation of  China.  Of  similar  date  and  design  is  the  En- 
glish Evangelical  Society,  which  has,  within  a few  years, 
sent  missionaries  to  China. 

By  the  above  allusions  it  appears  that  there  are  in  the 
city  of  Shanghae  missionaries  from  nine  or  ten  different 
societies  of  Protestant  Christians,  besides  a number  of 
agents  from  the  Romish  church.  Still  there  is  ample 
room  for  all  to  work  without  encroaching  upon  each 
other’s  dominions,  or  coming  in  collision  with  each  oth- 
er’s doings.  There, has  ever  appeared  a great  degree  of 
harmony  among  the  missionaries  of  different  societies  in 
China,  where  all  have  their  separate  chapels  and  schools, 
and  departments  of  labor,  but  generally  come  together 
as  one  family  at  the  monthly  concert  of  prayer. 

The  writer  recollects  an  occasion  of  this  kind  when  he 
met  at  Shanghae  more  than  forty  men  and  women  who 
were  laboring  under  the  patronage  of  various  societies, 
but  who  met  and  mingled  in  these  services  as  if  all  were 


150 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


members  of  one  household.  This  is  true  also  of  India. 
A “ missionary  breakfast”  at  Calcutta,  brings  together 
the  missionaries  of  the  English  Church,  the  London 
Society,  the  Scotch  Presbyterian,  the  English  Wesleyan 
and  English  Baptist  missions,  and  they  pray  and  sing 
and  read  an  essay  on  some  practical  missionary  question, 
take  a breakfast  together  and  then  go  home,  each  to  hold 
the  monthly  concert  of  prayer  with  his  own  people  or 
native  converts,  and  endeavor  to  infuse  into  their  minds 
the  light  he  has  enjoyed  and  the  hallowed  influences  of 
harmony  and  love  which  attended  the  morning  meeting. 
To  the  missionaries  among  the  heathen  the  monthly  con- 
cert of  prayer  is  a season  highly  appreciated,  and  while 
they  have  no  occasion  to  sacrifice  their  faith  of  the  Bible 
and  conscientious  views  of  truth,  they  can  love  a brother, 
and  live  and  labor  with  him  in  a common  cause,  and 
contend  against  a common  foe,  in  the  spirit  of  fraternal 
kindness  and  charity.  It  is  no  uncommon  thing  to  hear 
the  children  of  missionaries  address  the  associates  of 
their  parents  by  the  kindred  titles  of  uncle  and  aunt. 
There  may,  it  is  true,  sometimes  arise  causes  of  disaffec- 
tion in  the  missionary  fraternity  as  in  the  family  relation, 
and  the  alienation  may  be  intensified  by  the  intimacy  of 
the  former  intercourse.  Such,  unfortunately,  are  the  dan- 
gers to  which  the  best  of  men  are  exposed  by  the  frail- 
ties of  human  nature,  from  which  missionaries  are  not 
exempt.  All  we  wish  to  state  here,  is,  that  they  being 
removed  from  other  society  and  enlisted  against  a com- 
mon foe,  and  surrounded  by  the  perishing  heathen,  are 
naturally  drawn  together  for  society,  sympathy,  and  suc- 
cess in  their  work.  They  think  none  the  less  of  the 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


151 


truth — nor  falter  in  all  manly  and  Christian  endeavors  to 
maintain  it,  but  more  generally  speak  the  truth  in  love, 
than  do  its  advocates  in  Christian  lands. 

A glance  at  Full  Chau  will  complete  our  brief  review 
of  the  stations  of  the  China  mission.  This  city  had  been 
less  known  to  foreigners  than  the  other  stations  in  that 
country  occupied  by  Protestant  missionaries  previous  to 
the  treaties  of  1812.  It  has  since  become  a place  of  con- 
siderable foreign  trade,  and  the  seat  of  some  of  our  most 
promising  missions.  This  is  the  capital  of  the  Fukien 
province,  situated  in  26°  north  latitude,  and  119°  east 
longitude,  and  resting  on  the  banks  of  the  Min  river, 
about  thirty-five  miles  from  the  sea,  and  containing  about 
a million  of  people.  The  province  contains  fifty-seven 
thousand  square  miles,  and  fifteen  millions  of  people. 
They  speak  a dialect  peculiarly  their  own,  and  possess 
decidedly  marked  characteristics,  which  distinguish  them 
as  among  the  most  enterprising  and  hardy  and  industri- 
ous portions  of  a great  industrious  nation.  The  province, 
bordering  bn  the  China  sea  between  Hong  Kong  and 
Ningpo,  presents  a bold  and  rocky  aspect,  and  through 
the  interior  is  beautifully  ornamented  by  hills  and  val- 
leys, and  interspersed  by  rapid  rivers.  Their  whole  coast 
is  ornamented  by  islands  and  indented  by  coves  which 
afford  safe  anchorage  for  ships,  but  their  chief  seaport  is 
Amoy,  from  which  their  junks  go  to  Japan,  Formosa, 
Siam,  Singapore,  Java  and  the  surrounding  islands.  The 
celebrated  Bohea  hills  are  found  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  province  and  furnish  large  quantities  of  the  black 
teas  for  export.  The  scenery  of  the  river  Min  has  been, 
not  unaptly,  compared  to  the  Hudson. 


152 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  first  Protestant  missionary  who  occnpied  Full 
• Chan  was  the  Rev.  Stephen  Johnson,  of  the  American 
Board  of  Commissioners,  who  landed  there  from  Bang- 
kok, January  2,  1846.  He  had  given  thirteen  years  of 
devoted  toil  to  the  Chinese  branch  of  the  mission  at  Bang- 
kok, during  which  time  he  had  buried  two  wives  and  all 
his  children,  and  after  finishing  out  twenty  years  of  mis- 
sionary work,  by  spending  seven  years  at  Full  Chau,  re- 
turned to  America,  with  health  exhausted,  in  1853.  Mr. 
Johnson  was,  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Full  Chau,  joined 
by  his  former  fellow-laborer,  the  Rev.  L.  B.  Peet.  After 
seven  years  of  service  in  Bangkok,  and  ten  years  more 
at  Fuh  Chau,  Mrs.  Peet  ended  her  labors  and  entered 
upon  the  joy  of  her  Lord,  July,  1856.  Mr.  Peet  soon 
after  returned  to  the  United  States,  with  his  motherless 
children,  to  prepare  for  a renewed  series  of  labors  at  Fuh 
Chau.  Mr.  Peet  took  with  him  into  missionary  service, 
in  addition  to  a well-balanced  mind,  trained  at  old  Dart- 
mouth, a generous  physical  formation,  with  great  specific 
gravity ; and  when  we  last  saw  him,  after  many  years  of 
eastern  service,  he  still  presented  the  marks  of  robust 
health  and  a happy  mind. 

In  1848  this  mission  was  reinforced  by  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Baldwin  and  Cummings,  with  their  wives,  and  the  Rev. 
William  Richards.  Mr.  Richards  was  the  son  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Richards,  one  of  the  first  missionaries  at  the 
Sandwich  Islands.  He  was  born  at  the  islands,  his  ed- 
ucation finished  in  the  United  States,  and  after  three 
years  of  devoted  service  in  China,  embarked  for  America 
in  the  advanced  stage  of  pulmonary  disease,  and  died  at 
sea  in  1851. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


153 


Mr.  Cummings  labored  till  1855,  and  while  on  a visit 
to  bis  native  land,  with  the  fond  hope  of  resuming  his 
work  at  Full  Chau,  suddenly  died  with  his  friends  at 
their  Mew  England  home,  August  12,  1856. 

The  Eev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doolittle  reached  this -mission 
in  1850,  and  there  Mrs.  Doolittle  died  in  1856.  They 
were  joined  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartwell  in 
1853. 

In  1847,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Collins  and  tbe  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
White  commenced  a mission  at  Fuh  Chau,  in  behalf  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  America.  Mrs.  White 
died  at  Puli  Chau  in  1848 ; and  Mr.  Collins,  after  four 
years  of  efficient  service,  returned  in  time  to  die  with  his 
friends  in  America,  1851. 

The  Rev.  Mr.  Maclay  and  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hickok 
joined  the  mission  in  1848.  Failing  health  obliged  Mr. 
Hickok  to  retire  after  two  years  of  service.  His  absence 
from  China  was  greatly  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him. 
Mr.  Maclay  still  continues  his  active  duties  at  the  station  ; 
and  in  1850  was  joined  by  Mrs.  Maclay,  who,  like  the 
wife  of  Isaac,  was  chosen  by  proxy,  and  has  proved  a 
God-send,  to  cheer  his  loneliness,  and  help  him  in  his 
work. 

In  1851,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Colder  and  Dr.  Wyley,  with 
their  wives,  and  Miss  Seely,  joined  the  mission.  The 
latter  was  afterwards  married  to  Mr.  White.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Colder  returned  in  1853,  and  Mrs.  Wyley  died  No- 
vember, 1853.  Dr.  Wyley  returned  to  the  United  States, 
where  he  published  “ The  Mission  Cemetery,  with  an  in- 
troductory notice  of  Fuh  Chau  and  its  Missions,”  to  which 
the  writer  is  largely  indebted  for  this  sketch  of  the  mission 

7* 


154 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


at  Full  Chau,  and  the  biography  of  those  who  have  there 
fallen  in  the  service  of  the  mission.  The  Rev.  Messrs. 
Wentworth  and  Gibson,  and  their  wives,  went  out  in 
1855.  Mrs.  Wentworth  died  October  2,  1855.  See  bio- 
graphical sketches. 

The  English  Church  Missionary  Society  formed  a 
station  at  Full  Chau  in  1850,  by  sending  there  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Welton  and  Jackson.  Dr.  Welton  left  for  En- 
gland in  1856,  and  died  in  1858.  Mr.  Jackson  afterward 
joined  the  mission  at  FTingpo.  In  1855  the  mission  was 
reinforced  by  the  arrival  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fernley  and 
Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Macaw.  Mrs.  Macaw  died  soon  after 
her  arrival  in  the  country. 

This  city  had  been  visited  by  the  Bishop  of  Victoria 
in  behalf  of  the  Church  Missionary  Society  before  it  was 
occupied  by  Protestant  missions.  lie  first  went  to  China 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  Mr.  McClatchie  in  1844,  on  a 
tour  of  exploration.  In  the  closing  part  of  1845  he  spent 
a month  at  Full  Chau,  investigating  its  eligibility  as  a 
mission  station.  His  published  reports  presented  im- 
portant facts  in  favor  of  the  occupancy  of  this  city,  as 
well  as  much  information  in  relation  to  the  whole  field 
opened  in  China  for  Christian  enterprise.  After  visiting 
England,  he  returned,  charged  with  the  superintendency 
of  the  missions  in  China  connected  with  the  Church  of 
England.  His  Christian  spirit  and  fraternal  bearing 
towards  the  representatives  of  other  missions  have  ren- 
dered him  a welcome  visitant  at  their  places  of  work  and 
worship. 

Early  in  1850,  the  Rev.  Messrs.. Fast  and  Elquist,  the 
first  missionaries  sent  out  from  a society  recently  formed 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


155 


in  Sweden,  reached  Fall  Chau.  This  may  be  regarded 
as  the  natural  development  of  spiritual  life  so  recently 
awakened  in  Sweden.  The  bonds  of  formalism  are  no 
sooner  broken  and  the  benumbing  influences  of  a state 
religion  overcome,  than  the  Christian,  breathing  the  pure 
air  of  heavenly  love,  goes  forth  for  the  salvation  of  the 
world.  The  history  of  these  young  and  promising  mis- 
sionaries, says  Dr.  'Wyley,  is  brief  and  melancholy. 
After  much  and  troublesome  negotiation,  they  obtained 
the  promise  of  a permanent  residence  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  city  walls ; and  in  October,  1850,  only  a few 
months  after  their  arrival,  they  visited  an  English  vessel 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  to  obtain  the  funds  necessary 
to  complete  the  contract.  As  they  returned  in  their  small 
boat,  they  were  suddenly  attacked  by  a Chinese  piratical 
craft,  filled  with  armed  men,  which  had  put  off  from  one 
of  the  villages  along  the  shore.  During  the  encounter,  Mr. 
Fast  was  mortally  wounded,  and  fell  from  the  boat  into 
the  river,  which  wras  at  once  his  death-bed  and  his  grave. 
His  remains  were  never  recovered.  Mr.  Elquist,  when 
his  friend  had  fallen,  threw  himself  into  the  river,  and 
by  diving  under  the  water,  succeeded  in  reaching  the 
shore,  having  received  several  wounds.  For  two  days, 
smarting  under  the  wounds  and  enduring  the  intensest 
mental  agony,  he  wandered  on  the  mountains  which 
skirt  the  shore  of  the  river,  till  he  finally  reached  a point 
of  land  near  to  one  of  the  foreign  ships,  when  he  was 
discovered  and  taken  on  board.  One  of  the  piratical 
band,  supposed  to  be  its  leader,  was  fatally  wounded  in 
the  attack,  and  the  neighboring  haunt  from  which  these 
murderers  had  put  off,  was  subsequently  destroyed  by  a 


156 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


military  expedition  dispatched  from  Full  Cliau.  Mr. 
Elquist  sank  under  tlie  consequences  of  the  frightful 
scenes  through  which  he  had  passed,  and  with  declining 
health  visited  Hong  Kong  in  1851,  with  the  hope  of  re- 
storing health  by  a change  of  place,  and  getting  away 
from  the  painful  associations  of  Fuh  Chau.  We  recollect 
his  care-worn  countenance  as  he  landed  at  Hong  Kong, 
and  his  nervous  excitability  which  prevented  his  sleep, 
and  led  him  to  start  from  his  bed  in  the  greatest  alarm, 
at  the  sound  of  any  unusual  noise  in  the  street.  With- 
out the  hope  of  regaining  health  in  China,  he  embarked 
for  Sweden  in  1852.  Thus  ended  this  first  attempt  of 
the  Swedes  to  establish  a mission  in  China.  But  as  the 
fires  of  a pure  Christianity  are  kindled  on  the  altars  of 
Lutheranism,  or  as  the  ancient  forms  of  a primitive  faith 
shall  be  introduced  into  Sweden,  it  is  believed  that  her 
sons  will  be  seen  in  China,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth,  proclaiming  the  joyful  news  of  salvation  to  the 
dying  heathen. 

We  may,  perhaps,  be  pardoned  for  introducing  here  a 
pleasing  personal  reminiscence  associated  with  Sweden. 
Hear  the  close  of  1814,  when  desiring  an  opportunity  to 
bring  my  motherless  daughter  to  America,  Captain 
Beckman,  of  the  Swedish  ship  “Zenobia/'  came  from 
Canton,  and  anchored  his  ship  in  the  harbor  of  Hong 
Kong,  for  the  night,  to  start  for  Hew  York  the  next 
morning.  I went  on  board  to  send  by  her  some  letters 
to  the  home  friends.  Receiving  a cheerful  greeting  from 
the  captain,  and  an  offer  to  convey  any  small  packages 
for  me  to  the  United  States,  I replied,  that  I knew  of 
nothing,  unless  it  might  be  myself  and  little  girl. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


157 


The  captain  very  generously  answered,  “I  have  the 
ship  full  of  cargo,  and  my  cabin  half  full  of  provisions ; 
but  if  you  can  be  comfortable  with  half  the  cabin,  you 
shall  have  it,  provided  you  can  be  ready  to-morrow 
morning.”  I hastened  ashore,  and  spent  the  night  in 
superintending  the  packing  for  myself  and  daughter  for 
the  voyage,  while  the  Chinese  church  members  gave 
voluntary  aid  in  helping  things  together.  The  next 
day  found  myself,  daughter,  and  a Chinaman,  all  on 
board  by  eight  o’clock,  with  some  half  a dozen  camphor 
boxes  full  of  clothing,  for  a voyage  of  eighteen  thousand 
miles,  packed  in  delightful  confusion.  We  had  the  use 
of  half  the  stern  cabin  at  first,  and  after  a few  days,  the 
whole  cabin  was  given  to  our  exclusive  benefit,  while 
the  captain  insisted  upon  putting  himself  into  a small 
berth  on  our  account.  He  was  a man  of  a high  family 
in  Stockholm,  and  was  very  gentlemanly  in  his  manners, 
and  had  perfect  command  of  the  English  language.  His 
chief  officer  also  understood  English,  but  his  men  and 
boys  could  not  speak  English,  though  among  the  latter 
were  some  sons  of  noblemen.  At  one  time,  when  the 
cook  was  ill,  we  had  a knight  to  cook  our  dinner.  The 
ship  was  in  fine  order  and  under  perfect  command,  and 
during  the  voyage  there  was  no  flogging  nor  abusive 
language.  The  captain  treated  his  sailors  as  his  children, 
and  they  esteemed  him  as  a father.  He  was  of  course 
connected  with  the  Lutheran  church,  as  the  established 
religion  of  his  country,  and  soon  discovered  an  interest- 
ing spirit  of  inquiry  on  religious  matters  ; first,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  different  creeds,  and  then  concerning  the  con- 
tents of  the  Bible  and  the  claims  of  personal  religion. 


158 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


He  was  in  the  habit,  in  company  with  an  American 
friend  and  fellow-passenger,  of  coming  into  our  cabin  for 
daily  worship,  when  we  read  the  Scriptures  and  prayed 
together,  ivhile  the  chief  mate,  on  the  Sabbath,  read 
prayers  in  Swedish  to  the  sailors.  During  the  mild 
weather  of  the  homeward  voyage,  we  spent  many  an 
agreeable  hour  on  deck,  in  conversation  with  the  captain 
on  religious  subjects,  and  the  work  of  giving  the  gospel 
to  the  heathen,  and  before  the  close  of  the  passage  he 
afforded  evidence  of  being  a true  Christian  man.  Our 
engagements  for  the  passage  were  made  under  circum- 
stances which  left  no  time  to  stipulate  about  terms  ; but 
after  getting  to  sea,  and  recovering  in  part  from  the  first 
nausea  of  sea-sickness,  I thought  it  due  to  Captain  Beck- 
man to  ask  him  for  his  terms  for  the  passage  of  myself 
and  child  and  the  Chinaman,  to  America.  He  gave  me 
an  evasive  answer,  saying  there  would  be  time  enough 
to  arrange  those  matters  by-and-by.  Having  once  men- 
tioned the  subject,  I did  not  deem  it  courteous  to  refer 
to  it  again,  till  we  reached  New  York,  and  when  about 
landing  I said,  “Now,  Captain  Beckman,  if  you  will 
make  out  my  bill,  I will  make  the  needful  arrangements 
to  meet  it”- — expecting  to  pay  him  according  to  the  usual 
charges  for  three  passengers  from  China,  at  least  six  or 
eight  hundred  dollars,  the  passage  home  being  much 
more  expensive  than  in  going  out,  when  the  ships  are 
empty.  Instead  of  presenting  me  a bill,  Captain  Beck- 
man gave  me  his  hand,  and  in  very  kind  words  canceled 
the  debt.  If  he  had  been  a personal  friend,  or  a coun- 
tryman,  it  would  have  demanded  my  lasting  gratitude, 
but  his  being  a foreigner,  and,  at  the  beginning  of  the 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


159 


voyage  a stranger,  increased  my  admiration  and  grati- 
tude. Many  prayers  have  since  gone  up  for  Heaven’s 
favor  to  attend  him,  and  that  we  may  at  length  meet 
with  the  happy  above. 

In  addition  to  the  stations  already  mentioned,  much 
missionary  work  has  been  done  at  various  places  not  oc- 
cupied by  Europeans.  Native  preachers,  as  well  as  for- 
eign missionaries,  have  circulated  through  various  portions 
of  the  empire,  gathering  information  of  the  character  and 
habits  of  the  people,  and  the  condition  of  the  country, 
and  testing  the  feasibility  of  giving  Christian  instruction 
in  the  towns  and  villages  of  China,  beyond  the  protection 
of  any  foreign  flag.  In  the  Tie  Chiu  district,  much  mis- 
sionary work  has  already  been  done,  both  by  natives  and 
foreigners,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  expect  that  before  the 
printing  of  these  pages,  our  mission  may  have  a station 
located  in  the  chief  city  of  that  department,  where  the 
services  of  men  who  have  learned  of  Christ  in  the 
churches  of  Bangkok  and  Hong  Kong,  may  be  rendered 
directly  available  in  spreading  the  good  news  abroad. 
The  older  missionaries  connected  with  those  churches  are 
known  by  name  throughout  all  that  region  of  country, 
and  the  object  of  their  mission,  and  the  doctrines  they 
taught,  are  extensively  understood.  Here  are  millions 
of  idolaters,  for  whom  the  Scriptures  have  been  trans- 
lated, tracts  have  been  published,  native  preachers  have 
been  raised  up,  and  all  the  means  needful  to  give  to  them 
speedily  a knowledge  of  the  truth,  are  now  available. 
All  that  is  wanting  may  be  summed  up,  in  more  men  to 
go  and  teach  them,  more  money  to  feed  them,  and  print 
books  and  the  Bible,  and  more  faith  and  prayer  and 


160 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


sympathy  in  the  work,  on  the  part  of  the  churches  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  If  we  look  at  the  vastness  of  the 
field,  the  greatness  of  the  work,  the  peril  of  the  heathen, 
the  promise  of  the  Master,  the  providences  of  God,  point- 
ing to  our  churches  as  specially  interested  in  this  mission, 
all  summon  us  to  action,  in  language  as  clear  and  imper- 
ative as  if  the  Master  had  said  to  us  in  man’s  voice,  u Go 
work  in  my  vineyard.” 

There  has  been  published  at  different  times  in  the  Chi- 
nese Repository,  as  well  as  on  isolated  sheets,  a list  of 
the  Protestant  missionaries  to  the  Chinese.  The  follow- 
ing, bringing  down  the  list  to  the  present  date,  will  give 
the  name  of  the  missionary,  the  time  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice. and  the  society  with  which  he  was  connected. 

Before  giving  the  names  of  the  missionaries,  we  will 
record  a list  of  the  societies  engaged,  and  the  date  of 
their  entering  the  field  : 


The  London  Missionary  Society,  in  England A.D.  180T 

Tire  Netherlands  Missionary  Society,  at  Rotterdam “ 1S27 

The  American  Board  of  Commissioners “ 1829 

The  American  Baptist  Board  of  Foreign  Missions “ 1834 

The  American  Episcopal  Board  of  Foreign  Missions “ 1835 

The  Church  Missionary  Society,  of  England “ 1837 

The  American  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. .. . “ 1S37 

The  Morrison  Educational  Society,  in  China “ 1839 

The  General  Baptist  Missionary  Society  (England) “ 1845 

The  Evangelical  Missionary  Society,  at  Basle “ 1S46 

The  Khenish  Missionary  Society “ 1846 

The  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  in  (lie  United  States “ 1S46 

The  Seventh  Day  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  (U.  S.  A.) “ 1847 

The  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  (England).. ..  “ 1S47 

The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  (North) “ 1847 

The  Missionary  Society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  (South)  “ 1848 

The  Missionary  Society  of  Lund,  in  Sweden “ 1S49 

The  Cassel  Missionary  Society “ 1859 

The  Berlin  Missionary  Union  for  China “ 1851 

The  English  Wesleyan  Missionary  Society “ 1S51 

The  Chinese  Evangelization  Society,  (England) “ 1853 

The  Netherlands  Chinese  Evangelization  Society “ 1855 

The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  (U.  S.  A.).  “ 1858 

The  Mission  Union  for  the  Evangelization  of  China,  (in  Pomerania) “ 1858 


THE  CHINA  MISSION 


161 


LIST  OF  MISSIONARIES  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Name. 

^Rev.  Joshua  Marsliman, 
* Rev.  Robert  Morrison, 
Rev.  William  Milne, 

✓*  Rev.  W.  II  Medhurst, 
Rev.  John  Slater, 

Rev.  John  Ince, 

Rev.  Samuel  Milton, 

Rev.  Robert  Fleming, 
Rev.  James  Humphreys, 
Rev.  Daniel  Collie, 

✓ Rev.  Samuel  Kidd, 

Rev.  John  Smith, 

Rev.  Jacob  Tomlin, 

Rev.  Samuel  Dyer, 

Rev.  Charles  Gutzlaff, 

Mr.  William  Young, 

✓Rev.  C.  C.  Bridgman, 
Rev.  David  Abeel, 

Rev.  Herman  Rbttger, 
Rev.  Ira  Tracy, 

. S.  W.  Williams,  LL.D., 
Rev.  John  Evans, 

✓ Rev.  S.  Johnson, 

Rev.  S.  Munson, 

•"Rev.  Peter  Parker,  M.D., 
Rev.  Edwin  Stevens, 
Rev.  William  Dean, 

Rev.  II.  Lockwood, 

Rev.  F.  R.  Hanson, 

Rev.  Evans  Davies, 

Rev.  Samuel  Wolfe, 

Rev.  J.  Lewis  Shuck, 
Rev.  Alanson  Reed, 

Rev.  J.  P.  Dickinson, 
^Rev.  I.  J.  Roberts, 

Rev.  M.  B.  Hope,  M.D., 
✓Stephen  Tracy,  M.D., 
Rev.  Elihu  Doty, 

Rev.  Elbert  Nevius, 

Rt.  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone, 

Mr.  Edward  B.  Squire, 
Rev.  Alex.  Stronach, 

Rev.  John  Stronach, 

Rev.  Robert  W.  Orr, 

Rev.  J.  A.  Mitchell, 

Rev.  Dyer  Ball,  M.D., 
Rev.  G.  W.  Wood, 

Rev.  W.  J.  Pohlman, 

Wm.  Lockhart,  M.R.C.S., 
Rev.  S.  R.  Brown, 

Rev.  Josiah  Goddard, 
Rev.  N.  S.  Benham, 

Rey*  L.  B.  Peet, 

Wm.  B.  Diver,  M.D., 
•"Rev.  James  Lesrge, 

Rev.  W.  C.  Milne, 
Benjamin  Hobson,  M.  B., 
Rev.  T.  L.  McBryde, 

J.  C.  Hepburn,  M.  D., 
Rev.  W.  M.  Lowrie. 

W.  II.  Cumming,  M.D., 
D.  J.  Macgowan,  M.D., 

✓ Rev.  J.  C.  Bridgman, 


ArrM  Reti. 

1799, 

1807 

18131 

1817! 

1817  1S23 
1S18 

ISIS  1825 
1820  1823 
1821,1880 
18221 
1824  1S32 
1826. 1829 

1826  1836 

1827  j 

1827  1328 
1827! 

1830 

1831 

1832 | 1346 
1833! 1841 
1833  1851 
1838 
1833 

1883 
1SS4 

1884 

1534 
1835 
1835 
1835 
1835 
1835 

1835 

1836 
1836 
1836ilS3S 
1S36'1S39 
1836’ 

1836 
1S37 
1838 
1838 
1838 
1838 
183S 
1838 

1535 

1838 

1839 
1S39 
1839 
1>J9 
1839 
1839 
1839 
1839 

1839 

1840 

1841 

1842 
1842 
1S43 
1844 


1S53 

1847 

1S57 

1S3S 

1S37 

1839 


1S40 


1S43 

1S41 


1841 


1840 


1846 


1S41 

1S54 


1843 

1845 


1847 


Died. 

1837 

1334 

1822 

1857 

1S25 

1849 


1828 


1843 

1S51 


1846 

1S41 

1S34 

1S37 

1837 

1837 


1833 

1819 


1854 

1840 


1847 

1S50 


Society. 

Eng.  Bap.  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Netherlands  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Am.  B.  (J.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Netherlands  Society, 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  G.  F.  Missions, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Am.  Epis.  Board, 

Am.  Epis.  Board, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Southern  Baptist  Conw, 
Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Koberts  F und  Society, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions. 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  Epis.  Board, 

Church  -Miss.  Soc.  (Eng.). 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board. 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  G.  F.  Missions, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Morrison  Ed.  Society, 
Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
London  Miss.  Society, 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board. 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board. 
Self-supported, 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Am.  B.  G.  F.  Missions, 


Station. 

Serampore. 

Canton. 

Malacca. 

Batavia  and  Shanghae. 
Batavia. 

Penang. 

Singapore. 

Malacca. 

Malacca. 

Malacca. 

Malacca. 

Singapore. 

Singapore  and  Malacca. 
Penang  and  Singapore. 
Macao  and  Hong  Kong. 
Batavia  and  Amoy. 
Canton  and  Shanghae. 
Amoy. 

Rhio. 

Singapore. 

Macao  and  Canton. 
Malacca. 

Bangkok  and  Fuh  Chau. 
Sumatra. 

Canton. 

Canton. 

Bangkok  & Hong  Kong. 
Batavia. 

Batavia. 

Penang. 

Singapore. 

Macao  and  Shanghae. 
Bangkok. 

Singapore. 

Macao  and  Canton. 
Singapore. 

Bangkok. 

Borneo  and  Amoy. 
Borneo. 

Batavia  and  Shanghae. 
Singapore  and  Macao. 
Singapore  and  Amoy. 
Singapore  and  Amoy. 
Singapore. 

Singapore. 

Singapore  and  Canton. 
Singapore. 

Borneo  and  /Amoy. 
Macao  and  Shanghae. 
Macao  and  Hong  Kong. 
Bangkok  and  Ningpo. 
Bangkok. 

Bangkok  and  Fuh  Chau, 
Macao. 

Malacca  and  nongKong. 
Macao  and  Shanghae. 
Macao  and  Canton. 
Singapore  and  Amoy. 
Singapore  and  Amoy. 
Ningpo. 

Amoy. 

Ningpo. 

Canton. 


162 


THE  CHINA  MISSION 


Name. 

Arr’d  Reti. 

Died? 

Society. 

Richard  Cole  (printer), 

1844 

1S52 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

D.  B.  McCartee,  M.D., 

1844 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  R.  Q.  Way, 

1S44 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  T.  T.  Devan,  M.D., 

1S44 

1847 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Rev.  Wm.  Gillespie, 

1844 

1850 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  John  Lloyd, 

1844 

1848 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

-'Rev.  A.  P.  Happer,  M.D., 

1S44 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  M.  8.  Culbertson, 

1844 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  A.  W.  Loomis, 

1844 

1S49 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  T.  McClatchie, 

4844 

1853 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  H.  A.  Brown, 

1845 

1S47 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  S.  W.  Bonney, 

1S45 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

Rev.  II.  W Woods, 

1845 

1S46 

Am.  Epis.  Board, 

Rev.  R.  Graham, 

1845 

1847 

Am.  Epis.  Board, 

Rev.  T.  II.  Hudson, 

1845 

General  Baptist,  (Eng ), 

Rev.  Wm.  Jarrom, 

1845 

1S50 

General  Baptist,  (Eng ), 

Rev.  Wm.  Fairbrother, 

1843 

1846 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  E.  W.  Syle, 

1845 

Am.  Epis.  Board, 

Rev.  Wm.  A.  Macy, 

1S46 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

Rev.  J.  F.  Cleland, 

1846 

1S50 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  E.  N.  Jcnks, 

1846 

1848 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Rev.  S.  C.  Cloplon, 

1846 

1S47 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

Rev.  George  Poarcy, 

1S46 

1S54 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

Rev.  Wm.  Speer, 

1846 

1857 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

✓Rev.  J.  B.  French, 

1816 

1858 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  J.  W.  Quarter  man, 

1S46 

1857 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  E.  C.  Lord, 

1847 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Rev.  S.  Carpenter, 

1847 

Seventh  Day  Baptist, 

Rev.  N.  Wardner, 

1847 

1S57 

Seventh  Day  Baptist, 

Rev.  J.  V.  N.  Talmage, 

1847 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

Rev.  M.  C.  White, 

1847 

1S53 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

Rev.  J.  D.  Collins, 

1847 

1S52 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

Rev.  F.  C.  Johnson, 

1847 

1849 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

Rev.  W.  Muirhead, 

1S47 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  B.  Southwell, 

1S47 

1S49 

London  Miss.  Society, 

A.  Wylie  (printer), 

1847 

London  Miss  Society, 

Rev.  P.  D.  Spaulding, 

1847 

1349 

Am.  Episcopal  Board, 

Rev.  T.  W.  Tobv, 

1847 

1S50 

Southern  Baptist  Conv , 

Rev.  M.  T.  Yates, 

1847 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

II.  J.  Hirschberg,  M.R  C.S., 

1.847 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  T.  1 1 am  berg, 

1847 

1S54 

Basle  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  R.  Lcchler, 

1847 

Basle  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  W.  Kiister, 

1847 

1S47 

Iihenish  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  F.  Genaehr, 

1848 

Rhenish  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson, 

1848 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

Rev.  R.  S Maclay, 

1848 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

Rev  H.  Hickok, 

1848 

1849 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

Rev.  S.  Cummings, 

184S 

1S56 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

_^Rev.  C.  C.  Baldwin, 

1848 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

Rev.  W.  L.  Richards, 

1S4S 

1S51 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

J.  Sexton  James,  M D., 

1S48 

1848 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

Rev.  Wm.  Farmer, 

1S4S 

1850 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  R.  II.  Cobbold, 

1S4S 

Church  Miss.  Sociery, 

Rev.  W.  A.  Russell, 

1848 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  T.  Gilfillan, 

1848 

1S52 

London  Miss.  Society, 

^Rev.  Joseph  Edkins, 

1S4S 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  Wm.  C.  Burns, 

1848 

Presbyterian  Miss.  (Eng.) 

Rev.  W.  Lobscheid, 

1848 

1S57 

Rhenish  Miss.  Society, 

James  Hyslop,  M.B. 

1848 

1851 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Rev.  Charles  Taylor,  M.D., 

1848 

1852 

Methodist  Church,  South, 

Rev.  B Jenkins, 

1848 

Methodist  Church,  South, 

Rev.  II.  Y.  Rankin, 

1849 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  J.  Iv.  Wight, 

1S491S57 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

Rev.  B.  W.  Whihlen, 

1849:1854 

Southern  Baptist  Conv.. 

Mr.  M.  S.  Coulter  (printer), 

1849 

1S52 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

| Station. 

Ningpo,  Hong  Kong. 
Ningpo. 

Ningpo. 

Ilong  Kong  and  Canton. 
Hong  Kong  and  Canton. 
Amoy. 

Canton. 

Ningpo  and  Shanghae. 
Ningpo. 

Shanghae. 

Amoy. 

Canton  and  'Whampoa. 
Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Ningpo. 

Ningpo. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae  and  California. 
( anton. 

Hong  Kong  and  Canton. 
Bangkok. 

Canton. 

Canton  and  Shanghae. 
Canton  and  California. 
Canton. 

Ningpo. 

Ningpo. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Amoy. 

Full  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Canton. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

shanghae. 

Ilong  Kong  and  Amoy. 
Hong  Kong. 

Hong  Kong  and  Pu-kak. 
Ilong  Kong, 
si-hiang. 

Hong  Kong. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Ningpo. 

Kingpo. 

Canton  and  Amoy. 
Shanghae. 

Ilong  Kong  and  Amoy. 
Hong  Kong. 

Amoy. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Ningpo. 

Ningpo  and  Shanghae. 
Canton. 

Ningpo. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


163 


Name. 

Rev.  A.  Elquist, 

Rev.  Carl  J.  Fast, 

Rev.  J.  Hobson, 

Jas  II.  Young,  M.D., 

Rev.  F.  F.  Gough, 

Rev.  W.  Welton,  M.R.C.S., 
Rev.  R D.  Jackson, 

Rev.  E.  T.  R.  Moncrieff, 
^Rev.  J.  Doolittle, 

Rev.  S.  N.  Martin, 

Rev.  W.  A.  P.  Martin, 
Rev.  R.  Krone, 

Rev.  Carl  Yogel, 

Rev.  Wm  Ashmore, 

Rev.  James  Colder, 

Rev.  I.  W.  Wiley,  M.D., 
Rev.  George  Piercy, 

Rev.  R.  Neumann, 

Rev.  J.  Yon  Gennap, 

Rev.  C.  Keith, 
liev.  R.  Nelson, 

Mr.  J.  T.  Points, 

Rev.  T.  P.  Crawford, 

Geo.  W.  Burton,  M.D., 
Rev.  D.  Vrnomnn, 

^Eev.  J.  Chalmers, 

Rev.  J.  Byers, 

Rev.  P.  Winnes, 

Rev.  W.  Cunnyngham, 
Rev.  F.  H.  Brewster, 

Rev.  A.  B.  Cabaniss, 

Rev.  \V.  R.  Beach, 

" Rev.  Josiah  Cox, 

^ Rev.  Charles  Hartwell, 
Rev.  J.  S.  Burdon, 

Rev.  H.  Reeve, 

Rev.  Jas.  Johnston, 

Rev.  J.  L.  Nevius, 

^-Rev.  C.  F.  Preston, 

J.  G.  Kerr,  M D., 

Rev.  M.  J.  Knowlton, 

Rev.  A.  Taylor, 

Rev.  II.  Blodget, 

Rev.  W.  Aitchison, 

Rev.  C.  W.  Gail  lard, 

Rev.  R.  Lowrie, 

Rev  C.  Kelly,  M.D., 

Rev.  J.  S.  Belton, 

Rev.  J.  W.  Lambeth 
Air.  J.  H.  Tay  lor, 

W.  Parker,  M.B., 

Rev.  R Telford, 

Rev.  H.  Z.  Klockers, 

Rev.  A.  Hanspach, 

II.  Gdcking,  M.D., 

Rev.  F.  McCaw, 

Rev.  M.  Fearnly, 

Rev.  S.  Hutton, 

Rev.  J.  Preston, 

Rev.  S.  J.  Smith, 

Rev.  E.  Wentworth, 

✓Rev.  Otis  Gibson, 

M.  W.  Fish,  M.D., 

Rev.  Griffeth  John, 

Rev.  A.  Williamson, 


Avr’d 

Reti. 

Died. 

Society. 

1849 

1852 

Swedish  Miss.  Society, 

1849 

1S50 

Swedish  Miss.  Society, 

1849 

1S51 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1S5U 

1854 

Presbyterian  ch , (.Eng.), 

1850 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1850 

1S5S 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1850 

1853 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1859 

1S50 

1S57 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1850 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

1850 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

1S50 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

1850 

Rhenish  Miss.  Society, 

1850 

1852 

Cassel  Miss.  Society, 

1851 

Am  Baptist  Board. 

1*51 

1854 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

1851 

1*54 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

IS  1 

English  Wesleyan  Soc., 

1851 

1S54 

Berlin  Miss.  Society, 

185'. 

1*52 

Self-sustained, 

1851 

Am.  Episcopal  Board, 

1851 

Am.  Episcopal  Board, 

1851 

1S5G 

Aril.  Episcopal  Board, 

1859 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

1-52 

Southern  Baptist  Conv , 

1852 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

1852 

London  Miss.  Society, 

1852 

1852 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

1852 

Basle  Miss.  Society, 

1852 

Methodist  ch..  South, 

1S53 

1853 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

1853 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

1853 

1*56 

English  Wesleyan  Soc., 

1853 

English  Wesle>an  Soc., 

1853 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions. 

1853 

Church  Miss  Society, 

1S53  185T 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1853ilS57 

Presbyterian  ch.,  (Eng.), 

1854 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

IS, 54 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board. 

1854 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

1854 

Am  Baptist  Board, 

1 S5 1 1 355 

Chinese  Hwang.  Society, 

1854 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

1854 

Am.  B.  C.  F.  Missions, 

1854 

Southern  Baptist  Conv., 

1854 

Am.  Presbyterian  Board, 

1*54 

Methodist  ch  , South, 

1854 

1S56 

Methodist  ch.,  South, 

1S54 

Methodist  ch  , South, 

1854 

Chinese  Evang.  Society, 

1S54 

Chinese  Evang.  Society, 

1854 

Am.  Baptist  Board, 

1855 

1858 

Netherlands  Society, 

1855 

Berlin  Miss.  Society, 

1855 

Berlin  Miss.  Society, 

1S55 

1857 .Church  Miss.  Society, 

1855 

Church  Miss.  Society, 

1855 

English  Wesleyan  Soc., 

1S55i 

English  Wesleyan  Soc., 

1855 

English  Weslevan  Soc., 

1S55 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

1S55 

Am.  Methodist  Board, 

185o  1S56 

Am.  Episcopal  Board, 

1855 

London  Miss.  Society, 

1S55I 

London  Miss.  Society, 

Station. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Full  Chau. 

Shanghae. 

Amoy. 

Ningpo. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau  and  Ningpo. 
Hong  Kong.* 

Fuh  Chau. 

Ningpo. 

Ningpo. 

Hong  Kong. 

Hong  Kong. 

Bangkok  & Hong  Kong. 
Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Ilong  Kong  and  Canton. 
Hong  Kong. 

Hong  Kong  and  Batavia. 
Shanghae. 

hanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Hiangliae. 

shanghae. 

Canton. 

Hong  Kong. 

Shanghae. 

Ilong  Kong. 

Shanghae. 

Canton. 

Shanghae. 

Canton. 

Canton. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

\moy. 

Ningpo. 

Canton. 

Canton. 

Ningpo. 

Hong  Kong. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Canton. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Ningpo. 

Ningpo. 

Bangkok. 

Shanghae. 

Hong  Kong. 

Hong  Kong. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Canton. 

Canton. 

Canton. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 


164 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Name. 


lArr’d  Reti.  Died. 


Society. 


Station. 


Rev.  C.  Dougins, 

Rev.  J.  S.  Joralmoi), 

Rev.  W.  K.  Lea, 

Mr.  John  Jones, 

Rev.  It.  II.  Graves, 

Rev.  J.  Liggins, 

Rev.  C.  M.  Williams, 

Rev.  E.  B.  Insloe, 

Itcv.  \V.  Louis, 

Rev.  D.  Sandeman, 

Rev  C.  J.  Hall, 

Pruin,  M.D., 

Rev.  C.  R.  Mills, 

Rev.  S.  R.  Gayley, 

Mr.  L.  J.  Ladendorf, 

Rev.  Geo.  Smith, 

Rev.  G.  E.  Moule, 

Rev.  \V.  II.  Collins,  M.D., 
Rev.  Alex.  Grant, 

Rev.  II.  E.  F.  Voegler, 
Mr.  E.  Gamble, 


1857 

1S57 

1857 

ls57 

1857 

1857 

1858 
1858 
1858 
1858 
1858 


1856  1S5S 


1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 

1856 


1S58  Presbyterian  eh.,  (Eng.),  Amoy. 
Chinese  Evang.  Society,  Ningpo. 

Chinese  Evang.  Society,  Penang. 


Am.  Presbyterian  Board,  Shanghae. 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board,  Shanghae. 
Berlin  Miss.  Society,  j Hong  Kong. 


Presbyterian  eh.,  (Eng.),  Amoy. 
Pomeranian  Miss.  Soc.,  i Shanghae. 
Am.  Presbyterian  Board,  Ningpo. 


Presbyterian  eh  , (Eng.), I Amoy. 
Church  Miss.  Society,  i Ningpo. 


Presbyterian  eh.,  (Eng.),  Amoy. 
Reformed  Dutch  ch.,U.S.,  Amoy. 
London  Miss.  Society,  Amoy. 

Chinese  Evang.  Society,  Ningpo. 

Southern  Baptist  Conv.,  Canton. 


Am.  Episcopal  Board,  Shanghae. 

Am.  Episcopal  Board,  Shanghae. 


Anenisu  miss,  society,  jtongjxong. 


Church  Miss.  Society,  j Shanghae. 


Of  the  persons  named  in  this  list,  the  Messrs.  Tracy, 
Stronacli,  and  Martin,  are  brothers.  Mr.  Milne  and  his 
twin-brother  are  the  sons  of  Dr.  Milne.  The  persons  in 
the  employ  of  the  London  Missionary  Society  are  Con- 
gregation alists ; and  those  in  the  employ  of  the  Ameri- 
can Board  are  Congregationalists  or  Presbyterians,  except 
those  sent  to  Amoy,  who  belong  to  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church,  and  have  been  in  the  employ  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  since 
1858.  The  German  missionaries,  and  others  from  the 
continent,  are  Lutheran.  Messrs.  Munson,  Lowrie,  and 
Fast,  met  a violent  death;  Messrs.  Pohlman,  Benham, 
James,  and  Spaulding  were  drowned ; Messrs.  luce, 
Collie,  Wolfe,  Richards,  Farmer,  Byers,  and  French,  to- 
gether with  several  ladies  connected  with  the  mission, 
viz.,  Mrs.  Jenks,  Mrs.  Ashmore,  Mrs.  Stronach,  Mrs. 
Hobson,  and  Mrs.  Jenkins,  died  at  sea.  Mrs.  James  was 
drowned  with  her  husband.  In  connection  with  the 
China  mission,  about  forty  missionaries  have  lost  their 
wives,  and  several  of  them  have  each  lost  two. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION 


165 


Of  those  who  have  been  connected  with  the  China 
mission  twenty  years  and  upward,  are  Messrs.  Marshman, 
Morrison,  Medhurst,  S.  Johnson,  Bridgman,  William-, 
Shuck,  Hobson,  Legge,  Peet,  Boone,  Lockhart,  Stronach, 
Doty,  Roberts,  Ball,  and  Dean.  In  the  preceding  list, 
we  aim  to  include  the  names  of  all  the  missionaries  who 
have  been  connected  with  the  China  mission,  though 
some  of  them  have  not  been  stationed  in  China  proper. 
Dr.  Marshman,  for  instance,  was  located  in  Serampore, 
but  engaged  in  translating  the  Scriptures  into  Chinese. 
Others  were  stationed  at  Penang,  Batavia,  etc. 

LIST  OF  MISSIONABIES’  WIVES  WHO  HAVE  DIED  IN  CONNECTION 
WITH  THE  CHINA  MISSION,  TOGETHER  WITH  THE  PLACE  AND 
DATE  OF  TIIEIP.  DECEASE. 


Name. 


— - Mrs.  Morrison 

Mrs.  Milne 

Mrs.  Ince 

Mrs.  Humphreys 

Mrs.  Gutzlatf,  (first) 

Mrs.  Gutzlaff,  (second)  . . . 

Mrs.  W.  Young 

Mrs.  S.  Johnson,  (first)... 
Mrs.  S.  Johnson,  (second) 

Mrs.  Dean,  (first) 

Mrs.  Dean,  (second) 

Mrs.  Lockwood 

Mrs.  Shuck,  (first) 

Mrs.  Shuck,  (second) 

Mrs.  Doty,  (first) 

Mrs.  Doty,  (second) 

Mrs.  Boone 

Mrs.  J.  Stronach 

Mrs.  Ball 

Mrs.  Wood 

Mrs.  Pohlman 

Mrs.  Goddard. 

Mrs.  Peet 

Mrs.  Legge 

Mrs.  Hobson 

Mrs.  Devan 

Mrs.  Jarrom 

Mrs.  Fairbrother 

Mrs.  Jenks 

Mrs.  Speer 

Mrs.  Lord 

Mrs.  White 

Mrs.  Wylie 

Mrs.  Lechler 

Mrs.  J.  W.  Johnson 

Mrs.  James 


Date. 

Place. 

1821 

1819 

1822  ' 

1826 

1811 

Bangkok. 

1849 

1857 

1S89 

1S41 

1835 

1843 

1S37 

1844 

1845 

1858 

1842 

1846 

1843 

1338 

1S45 

1857 

1856 

1852 

1845 

1S46 

1845 

1S45 

1848 

1S47 

1843 

1843 

1850 

1S54 

1S4S 

1843 

166 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Name. 

Mrs.  Lobscheid 

Mrs.  Jenkins 

Mrs.  Whilden  

Mrs.  J.  H.  Young.... 

^Mrs.  Doolittle 

Mrs.  Ashmore 

Mrs.  "Wiley 

Mrs.  Vrooman 

Mrs.  Rurdon  (first)... 
Mrs.  Rurdon  (second). 

Airs.  Kerr 

Mrs.  Klockors 

Mrs.  McCaw 

Mrs.  Wentworth 

Mrs.  Fish 


Date. 

1S54 

iisi 

1853 

1858 

1858 

1853 

1854 

1854 
1858 

1855 
1855 
1855 
1855 
1857 


Place. 
Hong  Ivong. 
At  sea. 
Canton. 
Scotland. 
Fnh  Chau. 
At  sea. 

Fuh  Chau. 

Macao. 

Shanghae. 

Shanghae. 

Macao. 

Shanghae. 

F uh  Chau. 
Fuh  Chau. 
Shanghae. 


Of  these  honorable  women,  some  had  a brief  sojourn 
in  the  field  of  missionary  toil.  Like  David,  they  had  it 
in  their  heart  to  build  a house  unto  the  Lori,  and  gladly 
gave  their  most  precious  things  to  the  object.  They  had 
consecrated  themselves  and  given  up  cherished  home  en- 
joyments, and  offered  life,  and  the  fall  heart  of  woman’s 
love  upon  the  altar — and  God  accepted  the  sacrifice, 
without  the  service.  Others  lived  for  years  of  devoted 
and  successful  work  for  Christ  and  the  Chinese.  In  the 
formation  and  superintcndencv  of  schools  they  performed 
an  important  part — -in  writing  and  circulating  tracts  they 
testified  their  zeal — in  kind  looks  and  Christian  words, 
and  deeds  of  charity  to  their  degraded  sisters  of  the 
earth,  they  proved  their  strong  desire  for  their  elevation 
and  happiness — and  in  their  own  household,  woman’s 
great  mission,  they  proved  themselves  ministering  angels 
to  cheer  their  husbands  in  their  toil,  to  care  for  them  in 
sickness,  and  to  cure  them  of  discouragement,  when  ex- 
hausting labors  depress,  and  the  wasting  climate  unnerves 
the  man,  and  the  perverseness  of  the  heathen  perplexes 
the  mind. 

These  all  having  obtained  a good  report  through  faith, 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


167 


secured  not  the  promises  regarding  the  fuller  openings 
of  the  empire  for  Christian  effort,  but  having  seen  them, 
embraced  them,  and  while  they  confessed  that  they  were 
strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth,  labored  to  usher  in 
the  promised  enlargement  of  Zion.  They  lived  not  to 
witness  the  full  realization  of  their  hopes  here,  God  hav- 
ing reserved  for  them  some  better  thing  in  heaven. 

The  cause  of  this  long  list  of  mortality  in  the  wives  ot 
missionaries  connected  with  the  China  mission,  can  not 
be  found  in  any  peculiar  insalubrity  of  climate  in  China, 
where  the  people  enjoy  good  health  and  reach  often  a 
good  old  age,  as  we  might  expect  they  would,  located 
in  all  the  varieties  of  temperature  to  be  found  in  the 
United  States  between  20°  and  40°  north  latitude,  and  in 
a country  varied  by  some  of  the  largest  ri  vers  and  moun- 
tains, and  the  finest  lakes  and  valleys  to  be  found  in  the 
world.  There  is  also  a much  smaller  percentage  of  mor- 
tality among  missionaries  than  among  their  wives,  show- 
ing that  the  climate  is  not  peculiarly  hostile  to  foreigners. 
We  must  therefore  seek  for  the  cause  in  some  other 
quarter,  and  after  years  of  study  and  a personal  observa- 
tion of  the  practical  working  of  this  matter  in  various 
stations  in  the  East,  the  writer  is  of  opinion  that  the  cause 
is  chargeable  to  that  public  sentiment  which  expects  of  a 
missionary’s  wife  more  than  it  is  possible  for  her  to  per- 
form. AUhen  a pastor’s  wife  in  this  country,  under  the 
invigorating  influences  of  her  native  climate,  in  the  use 
of  her  native  language,  and  surrounded  by  the  usages 
and  appliances  of  life  with  which  she  has  been  familiar 
from  childhood,  shall  have  attended  to  the  duties  of  her 
household,  sympathised  with  and  encouraged  her  hus- 


1GS 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


band  in  bis  work,  given  a kind  word  of  counsel  and  en- 
couragement to  the  female  members  of  his  flock,  and 
superintended  the  religious  meetings  and  social  gatherings 
peculiarly  belonging  to  her  own  sex  ; it  is  not  reasonably 
expected  that  she  will  superadd  to  all  these  the  work  of 
learning  the  German  language,  and  teaching  a school  of 
German  children,  or  writing  and  distributing  tracts  in  the 
German  language  1 Still  this  would  be  comparatively  a 
light  task  to  that  imposed  by  the  common  expectations 
of  the  churches  upon  the  wives  of  their  missionaries 
among  the  heathen. 

It  is  very  generally  supposed  that  these  women,  rela- 
ted to  other  women  in  all  the  common  characteristics  of 
humanity,  are  to  go  to  India,  Siam,  or  China,  and,  in  a 
foreign  climate,  with  foreign  customs  and  a foreign  lan- 
guage, to  do  that  which  no  one  would  ever  think  of  at- 
tempting in  the  land  of  their  nativity  and  the  language 
of  their  childhood.  This  sentiment  has  perhaps  grown 
out  of  the  fact  that  in  some  peculiar  circumstances,  in- 
dividuals, without  the  care  of  children  in  their  own  fam- 
ily, have  been  able  to  superintend  a school  of  children! 
gathered  from  the  families  of  the  natives,  and  in  other 
departments  of  missionary  work  have  been  enabled  tcj 
perform  wonders;  but  these  are  exceptions,  and 
the  general  rule.  Individual  women  in  this  couutr yl 
and  perhaps  the  wives  of  pastors,  may  have  in  some  ir 
stances  edited  a public  journal,  presided  over  a boarding  , 
school,  or  published  books,  but  no  one  would  think  c 
making  these  the  standard  to  be  aimed  at  by  all  the  prl 
tors’  wives  in  the  land.  It  may  be  a damper  to  the  zJ. 


of  some  youthful  female  aspirant  for  foreign  servj  : 


ist  tti 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


169 


prompted  by  the  love  of  Christ  to  do  good  to  the  heath- 
en, to  think  that  her  high  mission  is  to  be  dwarfed  down 
to  the  humble  employment  of  mending  stockings,  sewing 
on  shirt-buttons,  feeding  her  children,  cheering  her  hus- 
band, sympathizing  in  his  work,  and  rendering  her  home 
the  happy  retreat  for  the  care-worn  missionary  as  he  re- 
turns from  his  daily  toils  and  preaching  tours  among  the 
heathen.  If  she  thinks  this  is  not  appropriate  mission- 
ary work,  an  enlightened  Christianity  may  pronounce  it 
the  appropriate  work  of  a missionary’s  wife  ; and  the 
woman  who  performs  that  work  well,  performs  the  work 
of  no  mean  mission.  Still  there  is  in  China  appropriate 
work  for  single  female  laborers. 

There  have  been  in  all  two  hundred  and  fourteen  men 
who  have  labored  in  the  China  mission,  in  connection 
with  the  Protestant  churches  of  Europe  and  America. 
Of  these,  twenty-eight  were  physicians,  of  whom  eleven 
were  also  clergymen;  five  were  printers;  one  hundred  and 
fifty-four  were  married  men,  of  whom  nineteen  married 
the  second  time,  and  four  were  married  the  third  time. 

• Some  of  these  men  landed  among  the  heathen  to  lay 
{down  their  lives  where  they  expected  to  labor ; others 
lived  ten,  twenty,  thirty,  and  one  reached  forty  years  of 
jervice.  The  total  amount  of  labor  gives  an  average  of 
ji  little  more  than  seven  years  to  each. 

I When  we  think  of  this  small  number  of  men,  equal 

I'only  to  the  number  of  the  two  hundred  and  fourteen 
radicals  in  their  language,  and  the  time  of  each  amount- 
ing, on  an  average,  to  a single  week  of  years,  and  con- 
rast  with  this  the  entire  Bible  translated,  commentaries 
co‘the  Scriptures  written,  grammars  and  dictionaries  of 

8 


170 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


the  language  prepared,  tracts  printed,  converts  made, 
churches  formed,  native  preachers  employed,  Christian 
schools  organized,  and  an  impression  made  upon  the 
multitudes  of  the  Chinese,  the  doctrines  of  the  gospel 
recognized  by  the  people  and  tolerated  by  the  govern- 
ment, the  barriers  broken  down  and  the  empire  opened 
to  Christian  enterprise — we  may  well  exclaim,  “ What 
hath  God  wrought !”  Surely  it  has  not  been  by  might 
nor  by  power,  but  by  the  Spirit  of  the  Lord,  and  in  the 
progress  of  the  work  we  discover  the  footprints  of  Je- 
hovah as  plainly  as  in  the  work  of  creation  or  the  teach- 
ings of  inspiration. 

Again,  when  we  look  at  this  handful  of  men  in  con- 
nection with  the  four  hundred  millions  of  the  Chinese 
whom  they  would  evangelize,  we  are  reminded  of  the 
five  barley  loaves  and  the  two  small  fishes,  and  in  the 
language  of  inspiration  may  ask,  “ But  what  are  these 
among  so  many  ?” 

The  difficulties  of  giving  the  gospel  to  the  Chinese  are 
found  in  their  ignorance,  superstition  and  opposition  to 
all  that  is  moral  and  pure,  and  just  and  unselfish.  They 
hold  on  to  their  idols  with  an  easy  hand,  but  they 


to  their  sins  with  all  their  heart.  They  are  ignorant  of fj; 


the  technicalities  of  Christianity  and  even  of  the  commork 
terms  by  which  its  first  principles  are  expressed.  Theilj 
language  must  needs  be  used  with  new  significations  to1' 


express  the  ideas  of  faith,  repentance  and  godliness.  Their  " 


social  habits  and  civil  institutions  are  all  opposed  to  the 
introduction  of  Christianity  among  them.  Their  lan-  , 
guage — its  difficult  pronunciation,  intonation,  aspirates 


aud  gutturals,  its  numerous  symbols,  slow  process  ’ 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


171 


■writing,  severe  tax  to  the  memory,  ambiguous  construc- 
tion, all  combine  to  render  it  a work  of  protracted  toil, 
and  a serious  obstacle  to  usefulness. 

But  it  matters  not  though  the  obstacles  were  multiplied 
a thousand  fold,  and  increased  to  a still  more  formidable 
magnitude — though  the  first  impression  upon  the  empire 
of  idolatry  had  not  been  made — though  the  first  convert 
had  not  been  redeemed,  and  the  first  Chinese  had  not 
been  transformed  by  the  power  of  the  gospel — the  pledge 
i's  sure,  for  the  promise  is  divine,  and  the  travail  of 
Christ  and  the  triumph  of  the  cross  are  just  as  certain  in 
China,  as  if  we  could  already  see  the  empire  Christianized, 
and  churches  reared  and  Christian  institutions  established, 
and  the  chaotic  masses  of  heathenism  moulded  into  social 
order,  domestic  happiness  and  personal  morality  and  ho- 
liness. Jehovah  Jesus  is  there  to  see  the  travail  of  his 
soul  and  be  satisfied — and  no  mean  results  will  satisfy 
Him  for  his  agony,  and  blood,  and  work. 

But  the  first  impression  has  been  made  in  China — the 
tree  whose  leaves  are  for  the  healing  of  the  nations  has 
already  been  planted  there,  and  that  tree  has  roots , and 
those  roots  are  fastened  to  the  Bock  of  ages,  and  it  mat- 
ters not  how  withering  the  drought  or  how  sweeping  the 
storm,  it  stands  by  the  power  of  Jehovah  and  is  moist- 
ened by  the  river  of  Cod.  Though  what  has  been  accom- 
plished be  now  undone — the  language  unlearned,  the 
Bible  untranslated,  the  schools  disbanded  and  the  con- 
verts all  be  sent  back  to  the  darkness  of  paganism,  it 
would  take  not  one  iota  from  the  prospects  of  ultimate 
success,  nor  lessen  in  the  least  our  duty  to  obey  the  divine 
command  to  give  them  the  gospel.  Cod  employs  the 


172 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


instrumentality  of  his  people  but  he  does  not  measure 
results  by  their  efficiency.  He  has  thus  far  in  the  prog- 
ress of  the  China  mission  given  us  proof  of  the  divinity 
of  the  work  by  connecting  such  large  results  with  such 
limited  labors,  thus  proving  that  the  excellency  of  the 
power  is  of  Glod  and  not  of  men.  Still  our  agency  is  in- 
dispensable to  the  salvation  of  the  heathen,  for  he  has 
informed  us  that  there  is  no  other  name  given  under 
heaven  nor  among  men,  but  the  name  of  Jesus,  whereby 
they  must  be  saved— and  even  by  him,  they  are  not 
saved  except  by  faith,  and  faith  cometh  by  hearing, 

AND  HEARING  BY  THE  WORD  OF  GOD,— AND  HOW  SHALL 

they  hear  without  A preacher  ? With  deference  be 
it  stated,  that  even  Jehovah  can  not  save  the  heathen  ex- 
cept the  gospel  of  Christ  be  preached  to  them — since  he 
has  made  that  a part  of  his  plan,  laid  far  back  beyond 
the  stretch  of  our  utmost  thought — and  his  plan  is  unal- 
terable, for  he  is  of  one  mind  and  who  can  turn  him  ? 
To  save  the  heathen  otherwise  than  by  faith  in  Jesus 
Christ  would  require  a reconstruction  of  the  whole  plan 
of  salvation.  The  foundation  stone  of  the  whole  super- 
structure of  redemption  must  needs  be  relaid' — -the  proffer 
of  pardon  would  require  a modification — the  promise  of 
heaven  come  on  new  and  other  conditions  than  those 
presented  in  the  gospel. 

But  it  is  written,  that  by  one  offering  he  hath  perfected 
for  ever  them  that  are  sanctified — and  there  remaineth  no 
more  sacrifice  for  sin,  but  a certain  fearful  looking  for  of 
judgment  and  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  devour  the 
adversaries.  That  the  heathen  are  sinners  is  proved  by 
their  own  creed  and  conduct — their  smoking  incense  and 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


173 


bleeding  victims  prove  their  sense  of  sin  by  the  attempted 
sacrifice, — they  are  condemned  by  their  own  laws  and 
their  own  religion.  They  are  all  liars  by  practice  and 
idolaters  by  profession,  and  the  book  of  truth  declares 
that  idolaters  and  all  liars  shall  have  their  part  in  the 
lake  which  burneth  with  fire  and  brimstone  : which  is  the 
second  death.  Then  unless  the  plan  of  salvation  be  re- 
constructed, the  heathen  must  hear  the  gospel  and  be- 
lieve it — or  they  are  doomed,  beyond  the  possibility  of 
escape.  This  throws  the  responsibility  of  the  world’s 
salvation  upon  every  one  indulging  the  hope  of  heaven, 
with  a tremendous  pressure.  Who  will  dare  to  meet  the 
consequences  of  a neglect  of  duty  under  such  circum- 
stances? On  the  other  hand  there  are  glorious  achieve- 
ments for  the  Christian.  The  man  who  ever  bore  a 
musket  in  the  defense  of  our  country’s  liberty,  wears  the 
honor  in  his  life  time,  and.  then  transmits  it  to  his  pos- 
terity— but  what  is  this,  or  what  the  honors  of  the  father 
of  our  country,  compared  with  the  honor  of  bearing  a 
part  in  liberating  the  world  from  the  endless  servitude 
of  sin  ? — And  who  will  be  willing  to  meet  the  awards  of 
the  final  day,  and  witness  the  full  conquests  of  the  cross, 
and  then  and  there  confess  that  he  took  no  part  in  the 
battle  ? 

But  while  God  has  formed  the  plan  and  opened  the 
way,  and  pledged  his  power  and  the  honor  of  his  great 
name  for  the  sure  results  and  certain  triumphs  of  the  en- 
terprise— it  is  ours  to  teach  the  nations  and  preach  the 
gospel  to  the  world — and  China  constitutes  no  small  part 
of  the  world.  A single  province  in  that  empire  contains 
more  inhabitants  than  the  entire  United  States.  Kiang- 


174 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


su,  one  of  the  eighteen  provinces,  through  which  the 
Yantsze  Kiang  and  Yellow  rivers  empty  into  the  Yel- 
low sea,  contains  thirty-seven  millions  and  eight  hundred 
and  forty-three  thousand  inhabitants,  while  the  last  cen- 
sus gives  to  the  entire  United  States  but  about  two 
thirds  of  that  number. 

To  these  millions  we  are  commanded  to  preach  the 
gospel.  The  command  is  personal  and  the  work  specific. 
There  is  no  mistaking  the  meaning  of  the  command  nor 
the  authority  whence  it  emanates,  nor  our  personal  inter- 
est and  obligation  in  its  execution.  To  do  this,  some  of 
us  may  have  to  go  in  person,  some  may  need  to  send 
their  sons  or  daughters,  their  brothers  or  sisters,  while 
those  of  us  who  remain  at  home  have  to  furnish  the 
means  of  getting  them  across  the  wide  waters,  and  of 
buying  their  rice,  while  they  learn  the  language  and 
teach  the  people,  and  translate  and  print  the  Bible  for 
the  heathen  in  our  behalf.  Yes,  for  us,  for  it  is  our 
work,  and  if  they  go  in  our  behalf,  common  honesty  and 
the  whole  of  Christianity  teach  that  it  is  our  duty  to 
sympathise  with  them,  pray  for  them,  support  them,  and 
remain  very  much  their  debtors  after  all,  as  we  are  also 
debtors  to  the  Gentiles  and  barbarians,  to  say  nothing  of 
our  debt  to  God’s  grace.  If  we  can  not  meet  this  debt 
otherwise,  there  remains  a command  on  record,  “ Sell 
that  ye  have  and  give  alms." 

This  command  is  often  read,  and  has  doubtless  some 
significancy,  or  the  Master  would  not  have  taken  the 
trouble  to  give  it.  It  is  recorded  in  immediate  connec- 
tion with  the  cheering  promise,  which  we  all  love  to  re- 
peat— “Fear  not,  little  flock,  for  it  is  your  Father’s  good 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


175 


pleasure  to  give  you  the  kingdom.”  This  is  very  muck 
the  order  of  the  book  of  inspiration,  namely,  to  couple 
a command  with  a promise,  and  we  know  not  where  the 
authority  is  found  for  divorcing  what  God  hath  joined 
together.  It  would  not  be  strange  if  those  who  cleave 
to  the  promises  and  exclude  the  precepts  from  their 
creed  should  find  in  the  end  the  promises  to  Ephraim 
to  constitute  their  only  portion. 

God  grant  that  those  of  us  who  bear  the  Christian’s 
name  may  understand  the  Christian’s  duty,  perform  the 
Christian’s  work,  and  share  in  the  Christian’s  reward. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES. 


AB  E EL. 

Rev.  David  Abeel  was  born  at  New  Brunswick, 
New  Jersey,  June  12,  1804.  His  family  was  originally 
from  Amsterdam,  Holland,  and  its  members  are  now 
widely  scattered  over  tbe  United  States.  His  father  was 
an  officer  in  the  navy  during  the  Revolution,  and  was  so 
distinguished  for  bis  bravery  in  several  actions  as  to  re- 
ceive the  special  thanks  of  Congress.  His  mother,  Jane 
Hassert,  was  a lady  possessed  of  deep  piety,  great  benev- 
olence of  character,  and  gentleness  of  spirit.  Their  son 
was  in  his  youth  characterized  by  great  vivacity  of  spirit, 
a depth  of  generous  feeling,  a high  sense  of  worldly  honor, 
and  a remarkable  devotion  to  friends  and  friendships. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  sought  admission  into  the  Mil- 
itary Academy  at  West  Point,  but  withdrew  his  applica- 
tion on  account  of  the  large  number  who  had  previously 
applied,  and  turned  his  attention  to  the  study  of  medicine 
for  about  a year. 

At  this  time,  when  about  seventeen  years  of  age,  his 
mind  was  seriously  arrested  by  religious  truth.  In  those 
hours  of  anxious  inquiry,  he  resorted  for  instruction  to 
the  venerable  Dr.  Livingston ; and  after  a long  season  of 
distress  and  darkness,  hope  dawned  upon  his  soul,  and 


A B E E L . 


177 


those  traits  of  Christian  character  began  to  be  developed 
which  marked  his  whole  subsequent  life.  He  took  a high 
position  in  regard  to  duty  and  self  consecration  to  God 
and  the  welfare  of  men,  which  he  well  maintained  to  the 
end ; and,  after  due  consideration,  devoted  himself  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry.  Accordingly,  in  1823,  he  entered 
the  Theological  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick,  and  com- 
pleted his  course  there  in  1826.  On  the  20th  of  the 
same  month  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  during  the 
next  month  received  his  commission  as  pastor  in  Athens, 
Greene  county,  New  York,  where  he  continued  two  years 
and  a half,  laboring,  in  season  and  out  of  season,  with 
considerable  success. 

One  extract,  given  from  a journal  kept  during  this  pe- 
riod, refers  to  labors  so  abundant,  in  preaching,  visiting, 
and  praying  with  the  people  of  his  flock,  that  we  are  not 
surprised  to  learn  that  at  the  close  of  the  first  two  years 
he  was  obliged  to  seek  health  by  rest  and  change  of 
scene. 

In  November,  1828,  he  sailed  for  St.  John’s,  one  of  the 
Danish  West  Indian  islands,  to  recruit  his  energies,  and 
with  the  expectation  of  preaching  as  he  found  oppor- 
tunfiy.  The  people  there  had  enjoyed  no  regular  preach- 
ing for  thirty-six  years,  but  the  government  prohibited 
him  exercising  his  sacred  calling,  and,  after  holding  ser- 
vices for  two  months,  he  was  forbid  to  continue  the  meet- 
ings, though  his  hearers  were  more  anxious  than  ever  to 
listen  to  him.  He,  therefore,  returned  to  New  York,  in 
August,  1829,  and  soon  after  a proposition  was  made  to 
him  to  go  to  China  as  chaplain  of  the  Seamen’s  Friend 
Society,  to  labor  for  seamen  frequenting  the  ports  of 

8* 


178 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Canton,  with  the  understanding  that,  after  one  year,  he 
was  to  enter  the  service  of  the  American  Board  of  For- 
eign Missions,  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  the  islands 
and  countries  in  eastern  Asia,  to  ascertain  the  best  posi- 
tions for  mission  stations.  He  sailed  for  Canton,  October 
14,  1829,  in  the  ship  Boman,  in  company  with  Rev.  E. 
C.  Bridgman,  and  reached  his  field  of  labor  February 
25,  1830,  where  he  and  his  associate  were  cordially  wel- 
comed by  Dr.  Morrison.  His  first  impressions  of  the 
heathen  are  thus  given  : 

“ Pitiable,  miserable  beings ! I can  scarcely  reconcile 
the  idea  to  my  mind  that  the  persons  whom  I daily  see 
are  the  pagans  of  whom  I have  thought  and  read  and 
heard  so  much,  and  for  whom  I have  joined  Cod’s  peo- 
ple in  so  many  petitions.  Bone  of  our  bone,  and  flesh 
of  our  flesh,  with  features,  actions,  intellect,  feelings  like 
our  own — so  similar  that  they  remind  me  of  Christian 
friends  whom  they  resemble — and  yet  in  gross  darkness; 
having  no  God  and  without  a knowledge  of  the  blessed 
Redeemer,  though  under  the  same  necessity  of  knowledge 
with  Christians ; bound  to  the  same  eternal  destinjr,  with 
no  other  season  of  preparation  than  the  present ; wither- 
ing under  the  same  infirmities  and  daily  dropping  into 
the  grave ; my  heart  melts  with  tenderness  at  the  thought 
of  them.” 

He  gave  himself  to  his  work,  preaching  to  seamen  and 
studying  the  Chinese  language,  with  the  idea  of  giving 
his  life  to  labors  for  the  heathen,  according  to  his  orig- 
inal plan.  He  visited  Batavia,  where  he  was  greatly 
aided  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Medhurst,  in  his  inquiries  con- 
cerning the  wants  of  the  Chinese  and  Malays  in  that 


A B E E L . 


179 


region.  From  Java,  lie  proceeded  to  Singapore,  in  June, 
1831,  where  he  met  the  Rev.  Mr.  Tomlin  about  leaving 
for  Siam.  They  sailed  together  in  an  Arab  ship  for 
Bangkok,  where  they  landed  on  the  2d  of  July.  Mr. 
Gutzlaff  had  been  there  before  them  on  a visit,  but  had 
left  for  China.  They  remained  at  Bangkok  from  July 
till  January,  distributing  tracts  and  exploring  the  place 
for  a missionary  station.  They  left  a favorable  impres- 
sion upon  the  minds  of  the  people,  of  their  benevolent 
intentions,  and  carried  away  with  them  the  conviction 
that  Bangkok  offered  one  of  the  most  favorable  positions 
for  a mission  station  in  that  region.  It  was  reserved  for 
Rev.  J.  Taylor  Jones  to  establish  the  mission  there,  by 
being  the  first  missionary  who  was  located  in  that  city 
as  his  field  of  labor.  He  removed  his  family  from  Bur- 
mah  to  Bangkok  in  1833,  and  there  he  translated  the 
sacred  Scriptures  for  the  Siamese,  there  he  labored  faith- 
fully to  plant  Christian  institutions,  there  he  was  a liv- 
ing epistle  of  Christ,  known  and  read  of  all  men — and 
there,  after  twenty  years  of  patient,  efficient  service  for 
Christ  and  the  salvation  of  the  heathen,  he  died  in  1851. 
In  that  city  also,  was  first  planted  the  Baptist  mission  to 
the  Chinese,  and  there  the  first  Chinese  church  was  organ- 
ized in  1835,  under  the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  W.  Dean, 
and  thence,  some  of  its  members  and  its  pastor,  together 
with  some  newly  baptized  converts,  formed  the  Tie 
Chu  church  of  Hong  Kong,  in  May,  1843.,  The  Chi- 
nese of  Bangkok  form  a large  part  of  the  population  of 
that  capital  city,  and  at  that  time  were  more  accessible 
than  their  countrymen  in  the  empire.  Mr.  Abeel  had 
his  sympathies  much  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  inhabi- 


180 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


tants  of  that  city,  where,  upon  the  princes  and  the  peo- 
ple, his  influence  was,  as  it  was  everywhere,  of  the 
most  salutary  character.  He  mourned  his  want  of 
health  to  continue  there  his  evangelical  labors.  On  his 
return  to  Singapore,  he  was  invited  to  supply  the  place 
of  the  English  chaplain,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Burn,  who  was 
then  ill,  and  who  soon  after  died.  While  at  Singapore, 
Mr.  Abeel  supplied  the  pulpit  with  great  acceptance  to 
the  people,  and  some  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  Brit- 
ish community  on  the  island,  owe  their  conversion  to 
Christ  to  his  ministerial  labors.  While  there,  he  pub- 
lished a tract  addressed  “ To  the  Bachelors  of  India,  by 
a Bachelor,”  in  which  are  set  forth  with  great  candor 
and  kindness,  the  social  habits  of  young  men  from  west- 
ern nations  residing  in  the  East.  A brief  extract  from 
that  pamphlet  will  indicate  its  charaacter : 

“We  know  the  assimilation  of  mind  to  the  objects  of 
its  daily  contemplation,  and  especially  where  these  ob- 
jects are  regarded  with  the  least  complacency.  When 
passion  gains  a triumphant  ascendency  over  the  dictates 
of  reason,  the  influence  of  refinement,  the  restraints  of 
relationship,  and  the  voice  of  conscience — then  farewell 
to  all  that  ennobles  and  moralizes  the  soul. 

“ How  many  have  landed  on  these  shores  with  princi- 
ples of  honor  and  purity  which  spurned  the  thought  of 
such  a base  and  immoral  alliance.  How  soon,  alas  ! have 
these  very  persons  become  familiarized  with  every  cause 
of  previous  disgust,  and  so  completely  infatuated  and  lost 
to  virtue,  as  to  smile  at  the  delicacy  of  the  conscientious 
new-comer,  and  even  condemn  his  ultra  scrupulosity. 
But  this  is  not  all.  The  gangrene  has  infected  the  whole 


ABEEL. 


.181 


soul,  and  every  thing  that  can  arrest  its  progress  is  care-  * 
fully  avoided.  The  very  crime  becomes  an  argument  for 
a separation  from  every  scene  and  object  designed  to  ben- 
efit the  heart.  Oh ! it  is  a downward  course,  and  the 
heart  of  many  a fond  parent  would  bleed  if  they  could 
follow  the  object  of  their  hopes  and  prayers  to  this  de- 
moralizing region.  Though  they  may  have  sighed  at 
the  cause  of  the  evil,  they  little  suspect  its  extent,  and  its 
deplorable  influence  upon  the  heart  and  life.” 

Failing  health  compelled  him  to  leave  India  for  a sea- 
son, and  in  May,  1833,  he  embarked  at  Singapore  for 
England,  where  he  labored  to  awaken  a still  greater  in- 
terest in  the  work  of  missions.  He  also  visited  the  con- 
tinent for  the  same  purpose,  and  labored  in  Holland  to 
induce  the  churches  there  to  cooperate  with  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church  in  America  in  the  cause  of  eastern  mis- 
sions. 

In  September,  1834,  Mr.  Abeel  reached  New  York, 
and  remained  in  the  United  States  about  four  years,  ex- 
erting a very  happy  influence  in  behalf  of  missions. 
During  that  time,  he  published  a volume  containing  a 
journal  of  his  residence  in  China,  and  the  neighboring 
countries.  From  this  volume  we  make  a brief  extract  in 
reference  to  the  city  of  Canton.  He  says : 

’‘The  city  stands  upon  the  north  bank  of  the  Choo- 
Kiang,  or  Pearl  river,  nearly  eighty  miles  from  the  sea. 
Its  site  is  almost  a perfect  level.  It  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  a range  of  naked,  uninteresting  hills.  Includ- 
ing the  river  and  neighborhood,  the  population  has  been 
estimated  at  from  a million  to  fifteen  hundred  thousand. 
The  city  itself  is  surrounded  by  walls,  within  which  the 


182. 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


stranger  is  not  allowed  to  enter ; the  suburbs,  or  unwalled 
town,  probably  of  equal  extent  and  populousness,  is  ac- 
cessible to  foreigners.  There  is  nothing  in  the  locality 
of  the  place,  the  arrangement  of  its  streets,  or  the  style 
of  its  buildings,  calculated  to  call  forth  the  admiration 
of  the  visitor.  The  scene,  it  is  true,  affords  abundant 
interest  to  the  stranger ; but  it  is  the  exclusive  interest 
of  novelty,  and  soon  leaves  the  mind  without  an  agree- 
able recollection.  The  houses  ai’e  generally  low,  narrow, 
and  exceedingly  compact.  Some  of  the  factories  (ware- 
houses), especially  those  occupied  by  the  tea  merchants, 
are  immensely  spacious,  and  contain  a vast  number  of 
compartments,  but  you  are  obliged  to  enter  them  before 
you  can  determine  their  locality,  as  there  is  nothing  in 
external  appearance  to  distingush  them  from  the  dense 
mass  of  buildings  with  which  they  are  environed.  The 
width  of  the  streets  varies  from  about  fifteen  to  three 
feet,  measuring  from  house  to  house,  and  the  medium 
proportion  of  the  streets  of  the  city  would  probably  not 
exceed  eight  feet.  In  passing  through  even  the  business 
districts  I have  frequently  extended  my  arms  and  reached 
the  opposite  houses.  The  principal  streets  are  occupied 
by  merchants  and  mechanics,  and  their  shops  are  so 
constructed  as  to  open  in  front  and  expose  their  con- 
tents to  the  observation  of  the  passenger.  Boards, 
with  large  painted  or  gilded  characters  intended  as 
signs,  are  placed  before  each  door,  and  facing  the  di- 
rection of  the  street,  constitute  its  most  ornamental  ob- 
jects. The  natives  of  Canton  can  furnish  you  with  the 
names  of  more  than  six  hundred  streets  in  the  city. 
These  are  principally  short  and  crooked,  though  some 


A B E E L . 


183 


of  them  extend  to  a great  length.  They  are  flagged 
■with  stone,  chiefly  granite. 

“ Trades  are  generally  found  in  close  vicinity.  The 
different  classes  of  mechanics  bind  themselves  to  certain 
conventional  regulations,  and  each  party  has  a public 
hall  of  meeting,  for  consultation,  feasting,  and  dramatic 
amusements.  In  the  city,  seventeen  thousand  persons 
are  employed  in  weaving  silk ; fifty  thousand  in  the 
manufacture  of  cloth  ; four  thousand  in  making  shoes. 
The  number  of  licensed  barbers  is  between  seven  and 
eight  thousand,  and  two  thousand  persons  obtain  a live- 
lihood by  the  practice  of  medicine  ; and  yet,  it  is  thought 
by  a writer  in  the  Chinese  Repository,  that  this  large 
number  includes  not  a fourth  part  of  the  mechanics  and 
quacks  of  Canton. 

“Notwithstanding  the  limited  space  between  the  houses, 
the  passage-way  of  the  streets  is  in  many  places  still 
more  straitened  by  the  stands  of  butchers,  fishmongers, 
fruiterers,  hucksters,  mechanics,  quacks,  and  often  by 
jugglers,  story-tellers,  and  gamblers  and  their  attendants. 
As  the  articles  exposed  for  sale  in  the  streets  are  chiefly 
adapted  to  the  necessities  of  the  day,  the  extreme  to 
which  the  principle  of  accommodation  is  carried  fur- 
nishes a criterion  of  the  pecuniary  circumstances  of  the 
people.  Poultry  and  fish  are  dissected  into  very  minute 
portions.  A quarter  of  a. fowl,  the  head  and  neck,  and 
frequently  the  entrails  alone,  are  all  to  which  their  ability 
extends.  This,  of  course,  is  the  luxury , and  designed 
merely  to  give  a relish  to  their  ordinary  and  less  extrav- 
agant fare.  Vegetables,  from  their  cheapness,  are  so  in- 
dispensable to  the  daily  support  of  the  community,  that 


184 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


they  are  exposed  for  sale  in  tlie  streets  in  the  greatest 
profusion.  But  the  display  of  the  teas  in  the  shops  is 
the  most  amusing.  The  Chinese,  as  is  known,  generally 
drink  the  black  teas.  These  are  sold,  not  simply  accord- 
ing to  their  qualities,  hut  according  to  the  strength 
which  remains  after  their  virtues  have  been  partially, 
and  sometimes  principally  extracted  by  less  indigent 
purchasers. 

“ Besides  the  vigilance  and  skill  required  in  navigating 
these  streets,  so  narrowed  and  obstructed  by  the  numer- 
ous articles  referred  to,  it  is  necessary  to  comfort  and 
cleanliness  to  catch  the  warnings  and  watch  the  motions 
of  the  porters,  who  carry  all  movable  bodies  upon  their 
shoulders,  and  who  constitute  no  inconsiderable  portion 
of  the  moving  multitude.  Their  burden  is  suspended 
either  to  the  end  or  center  of  bamboos,  according  to  its 
separability  and  weight ; and  transferred,  however  bulky 
and  ponderous,  to  any  distance  with  much  dispatch. 
Such  is  the  number  of  these  laborers,  that  their  voices 
are  constantly  ringing  in  our  ears  ; and  such  is  the  throng 
that  oppose  them,  that  their  progress  depends  almost  as 
much  on  their  lungs  as  their  legs. 

“ One  class,  called  by  the  Chinese, ‘ horses  without  tails,’ 
address  you  in  a more  authoritative  tone.  These  are  the 
bearers  of  men  of  wealth  and  distinction,  who  generally 
appear  abroad  in  sedan  chairs,  and  often  take  up  so  much 
of  the  small  streets  with  their  vehicles  as  to  leave  but  a 
dangerous  space  between  them  and  the  houses. 

“ The  occupations  of  the  tradesmen  are  varied.  Meat, 
fish,  vegetables,  fruits,  drugs,  manufactures,  every  thing 
saleable,  is  brought  to  this  general  market.  A number 


A B E E L. 


185 


convey  their  portable  kitchens  hither,  and  prepare  such 
dishes  as  suit  the  palates  and  purses  of  the  promiscuous 
concourse.  Others  plant  their  barber’s  shop,  or  its  nec- 
essary apparatus,  in  a convenient  place,  and  spend  their 
leisure  hours  in  lolling  about,  and  conversation.  When 
the  crowd  presses  too  closely  upon  any  of  these  exhibit- 
ors, they  have  the  most  ludicrous  and  effective  mode  of 
enlarging  the  circle.  With  imperturbable  gravity  they 
draw  from  their  pockets  a cord  with  a bullet  attached  to 
the  end,  and  then  closing  their  eyes,  to  exclude  partial- 
ity, they  whirl  it  around  over  their  heads,  gradually  let- 
ting out  the  cord  and  increasing  the  rapidity,  until  it 
comes  whizzing  before  the  faces  of  the  intruders,  and 
drives  them  back  to  the  required  distance. 

“ In  surveying  this  mass  of  accountable  beings  there 
are  many  points  of  great  interest  to  attract  the  eye  of  Chris- 
tian compassion  and  benevolence.  Independently  of  the 
atheistic  and  hopeless  condition  of  all  the  heathen,  there 
are  facts  of  importance  peculiar  to  this  daily  throng. 
Great  numbers  of  them  can  read,  and  are  attracted  by 
every  publication  that  meets  their  eyes.  It  is  customary 
to  paste  up  advertisements  in  the  most  public  places  of 
the  squares  and  the  streets,  and  the  groups  gathered 
around  them  show  their  eagerness  to  catch  at  every 
piece  of  information.  Many  of  these  handbills  set  forth 
the  pretensions  of  quacks,  and  are  often  of  such  an  im- 
moral character  as  proves  that  G-od  has  given  the  people 
up  to  vile  affections.  What  a place  for  the  operations  of 
the  press  sacred  to  the  cause  of  the  Redeemer.” 

From  a missionary  sermon  preached  by  Mr.  Abeel,  on 


186 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


the  departure  of  a company  for  Africa,  the  following  ex- 
tract is  taken  : 

“ I know  of  no  life  more  desirable  than  that  of  a de- 
voted missionary.  Take  from  him  the  world  with  all  its 
fascinations  and  cares,  and  you  have  deprived  him  of 
nothing.  You  have  done  him  a favor.  You  have  jflaced 
him  in  a condition  somewhat  similar  to  that  of  the  glo- 
rified spirits.  Just  so  far  as  every  thing  earthly  is  re- 
moved from  his  heart,  so  far  is  the  channel  of  his  warm 
affections  to  God  cleared  of  its  obstructions,  and  widened, 
and  deepened,  wdiile  the  tide  of  his  love  flows  freely 
forth,  and  the  river  of  God’s  pleasure  rolls  back  in  its 
fullness  on  his  delighted  soul. 

“Fix  your  eye  upon  that  gracious  Redeemer  and  never 
turn  it  away.  Remember  you  go  on  his  errand.  He  sent 
you.  Animating  truth ! The  enterprise  is  not  ours. 
Let  those  who  denominate  a world’s  conversion,  a wild 
scheme,  remember  who  devised  it.  Let  those  who  look 
upon  missionaries  as  enthusiasts,  reflect  whose  command 
has  made  them  such.  Let  those  who  believe  the  nations 
can  never  be  evangelized,  consider  whose  power  and  ve- 
racity their  incredulity  sets  at  defiance.  While  Jesus 
has  died  to  redeem  the  world — while  the  scepter  of  the 
universe  and  the  throne  of  all  hearts  is  in  his  hands — 
while  the  angels  are  his  servants,  and  the  devils  are  be- 
neath his  feet — while  all  power  in  heaven  and  earth  is 
his,  and  his  for  this  express  purpose — then  who  has  the 
privilege  of  prosecuting  his  work  with  assurance  and 
delight,  if  the  missionaries  of  Christ  have  not  ?” 

He  was  detained  in  the  United  States  beyond  his  orig- 


AB  E E L. 


187 


inal  expectations  by  renewed  attacks  of  disease ; but 
finally  sailed  tlie  second  time  from  America,  October 
17,  1838,  in  the  ship  Morrison,  in  company  with  Rev. 
S.  R.  Brown  and  B.  P.  Keasberry  and  tbeir  wives,  a 
free  passage  having  been  given  to  the  whole  party  by 
the  owners  of  the  ship,  Messrs.  Olyphant  & Co.  They 
reached  Macao  February  20,  1839,  and  there  Mr.  Abeel 
remained  for  most  of  the  next  two  years  in  the  study 
of  the  Chinese  language.  He  had  suffered  from  fre- 
quent  attacks  of  disease  of  the  heart,  but  was  able  to 
prosecute  his  work  with  success.  In  November,  1839, 
he  writes,  “ 0,  how  time  flies! — summer  gone,  autumn 
gone,  the  ‘greater  part,  and  probably  by  far  the  best  part 
of  life  gone.  Greatly  blessed  in  health,  all  would  be 
well,  morally  and  physically,  were  it  not  for  the  heart. 
Its  thumping  and  aching  and  sinning  will  soon  be  over, 
which  ought  to  satisfy  me.  The  farther  I advance  in  the 
language  the  more  desirous  do  I become  to  live  that  I 
may  employ  it.  And  yet,  when  I think  of  Morrison  and 
Stevens,  and  others,  who  with  all  their  qualifications 
were  called  away  in  the  midst  of  life,  I perceive  that  the 
Lord’s  work  does  not  require  such  a tool  as  I am.  Well, 
his  perfect  will  be  done.  Heaven  is  full  of  attractions. 
Jesus  is  there.  Our  Father  is  there.  What  is  not  there 
which  the  sanctified  soul  desires  ?” 

In  1841  he  went  to  Singapore,  and  in  company  with 
Rev.  Mr.  McBride  proceeded  thence  to  the  mission  sta- 
tions at  Sambas  and  Pontianak  in  Borneo,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Macao. 

In  February,  1842,  Dr.  Abeel,  in  company  with  Bish- 
op Boone,  proceeded  to  Kulansu,  a small  island  near 


188 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Amoy,  then  occupied  by  British  troops,  where  they 
found  an  encouraging  opening  for  a mission  station. 
The  writer  visited  them  a few  weeks  after  their  location, 
and  found  their  hands  full  of  work  and  their  hearts  full 
of  hope  and  happiness  in  it.  In  the  service  of  this  mis- 
sion Dr.  Abeel  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  and  to  his  influ- 
ence in  its  early  establishment,  in  conciliating  the  minds 
of  the  natives,  and  his  evangelical  labors,  we  are  largely 
indebted  for  the  subsequent  success  of  the  Lord’s  work 
at  that  place. 

Bishop  Boone  afterward  removed  to  Shanghae,  and 
the  mission  at  Amoy,  planted  by  Abeel  and  aided  by 
the  devoted  Pohlman  and  his  worthy  compeers,  has  also 
become  the  location  of  a promising  branch  of  the  London 
Mission  Society,  as  well  as  of  the  Scotch  Presbyterian 
church  and  others. 

After  reaching  his  new  home  Mr.  Abeel  writes — “ I 
have  reason  to  thank  God  for  bringing  me  to  this  place. 
It  appears  like  an  excellent  opening  for  missionary  labor. 
It  is  the  very  sphere  I have  desired  and  prayed  for  these 
many  years.  This  appears  more  like  the  beginning  of 
missionary  work  in  China  than  any  thing  I have  yet 
seen.” 

As  an  illustration  of  the  friendly  feeling  toward  this 
young  mission,  on  the  part  of  the  inhabitants,  it  may  be 
here  stated,  that  during  the  visit  of  the  writer  to  the 
place  above  alluded  to,  he  went  in  company  with  Dr. 
Abeel  through  the  gates  of  the  city  of  Amoy,  and  then 
ascended  the  walls  of  the  town  from  which  we  could 
look  off  upon  the  surrounding  hills  on  the  one  side  and 
the  small  islands  which  adorn  the  coast  on  the  other, 


A B E E L. 


189 


while  in  the  streets  of  the  city  were  crowds  of  old  men, 
women  and  children  looking  upon  the  foreigners  walk- 
ing upon  the  high  walls  surrounding  their  city.  Though 
this  was  during  the  time  of  war  between  their  country 
and  England,  and  most  of  their  young  and  able-bodied 
men  were  up  the  coast  about  Ningpo  and  Sbanghae  con- 
tending with  a nation  whose  costume  and  language  were 
known  to  be  in  common  with  ours,  still  we  were  allowed 
peacefully  to  pass  half  around  their  city,  and  near  the 
northern  gate  descended  to  the  streets,  when  a crowd  fol- 
lowed, and  some  little  boys  went  before  us  as  heralds,  cry- 
ing, “ These  are  the  sacred  teachers  from  the  land  that 
bears  the  star-spangled  banner.”  After  passing  through 
several  streets  we  came  toward  the  western  gate,  when  a 
man  from  the  crowd  said  to  us,  “ This  is  my  cottage ; will 
you  go  in  and  drink  tea?”  We  entered,  and  to  keep 
out  the  multitude  attracted  by  curiosity  to  see  the  for- 
eigners, our  host  closed  the  door  and  bolted  it.  Then 
came  the  somewhat  startling  thought  that  we  were,  in 
time  of  war,  in  an  enemy’s  country,  in  one  of  their 
houses,  with  the  doors  closed  and  barred  upon  us ; while 
a throng  of  Chinese  stood  without.  We  however  saw 
nothiug  but  friendship  within,  and  after  giving  us  tea, 
and  fruits,  and  sweetmeats,  and  after  we  were  refreshed 
from  our  long  walk  in  the  scorching  sun,  our  friend  said, 
“ The  crowd  is  so  great,  and  so  eager  to  see  you,  at  the 
front  door,  you  can  not  pass  through.  I will  give  you  a 
passage  by  the  back  way.”  So  he  led  us  out  of  his  hos- 
pitable home  to  the  gate  of  the  city,  where  he  very  po- 
litely took  leave,  and  we  passed  home  with  feelings  some- 


190 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


what  like  those  of  Peter,  when  the  angel  of  the  Lord 
led  him  out  of  prison  through  the  iron  gate. 

This  confidence  and  cordiality  of  the  people  was  largely 
owing  to  the  kindness  and  conciliatory  character  of  Dr. 
Abeel  in  all  his  intercourse  with  the  inhabitants,  and  his 
influence  upon  the  officials,  with  whom  he  had  served  at 
times  as  an  interpreter  for  the  English.  It  was  exceed- 
ingly fortunate  for  the  mission,  and  for  all  foreign  rela- 
tions at  Amoy,  that  such  a man  as  Dr.  Abeel  was  to 
make  the  first  impressions  upon  the  people. 

Soon  after,  the  mission  was  reinforced  by  Dr.  Hepburn 
and  Rev.  Mr.  McBride,  of  the  Presbyterian  Board,  and 
Dr.  Cumming,  a gentleman  who  supported  himself,  and 
in  company  with  Dr.  Hepburn,  opened  a hospital  for  the 
gratuitous  distribution  of  medicine  among  the  Chinese. 
At  this  hospital,  Dr.  Abeel  found  employ  in  giving  re- 
ligious instruction  to  the  patients,  in  preaching  to  the 
British  troops  on  the  Sabbath,  and  in  teaching  the  hea- 
then daily  at  liis  dwelling,  in  the  market-places,  and  from 
house  to  house.  He  was  in  labors  abundant,  apostolic, 
Christ-like. 

In  the  early  part  of  1844,  his  severe  labors,  together 
with  a wasting  cough,  compelled  him  to  leave  his  work 
for  a little,  and  spend  a few  weeks  at  Canton  and  Hong 
Kong.  During  this  season  of  rest  the  writer  enjoyed  his 
society  at  Hong  Kong  for  a few  days,  and  they  were 
days  of  rich  spiritual  enjoyment.  Dr.  Abeel ’s  conversa- 
tion was  then  in  heaven,  from  whence  he  was  looking 
for  the  Saviour.  He  spoke  of  death  with  a cheerful  and 
chastened  familiarity  which  proved  him  to  be  in  close 
and  constant  communion  with  the  Father  and  his  Son 


A B E E L . 


191 


Jesus  Christ,  while  he  retained  the  easy  familiarity  of 
fraternal  friendship  which  rendered  his  company  delight- 
ful and  improving. 

At  length  disease  compelled  him  to  leave  liis  work  and 
come  home  to  die.  He  left  China  January  14th,  1845, 
and  reached  New  York  April  3d,  so  exhausted  that  he 
was  carried  from  the  ship  to  his  friends.  Though  so 
feeble,  his  life  was  prolonged  beyond  their  expectations. 
On  the  1st  of  January,  1846,  he  made  the  following 
entry  in  his  journal : 

“ I have  probably  enjoyed  more  of  the  divine  presence 
and  favor  during  the  last  year  than  in  any  preceding  one. 
Very  ill — much  of  the  time  expecting  to  die.  Blessed 
be  God  ! I have  no  fear  of  death.  This  has  come  through 
confidence  in  the  power  and  faithfulness  of  my  Ke- 
deemer.  Floods  of  light  seem  sometimes  to  have  poured 
into  my  soul.  God  has  made  his  goodness  to  pass  before 
me.  He  has  disclosed  to  me  the  love  and  tenderness  of 
his  past  dealing's  with  me — how  he  led  me  out  to  the 
heathen,  and  brought  me  back  to  die  among  the  dearest 
friends,  and  in  the  most  meliorating  circumstances.  All, 
all  is  of  grace,  and  my  heart  often  swells  with  gratitude. 
Oh  ! who  has  ever  been  more  tenderly  and  more  deli- 
cately provided  for  in  all  things?  I have  eternal  life 
in  bright  and  animating  prospect  through  Jesus  Christ 
my  all ; and  besides,  I have  the  world,  and  things  pres- 
ent, and  things  to  come.  Oh ! for  more  resemblance  to 
Jesus ! With  so  little,  I wonder  at  such  manifestations.” 

He  returned  from  Georgia  in  April,  made  a visit  to 
Bhode  Island,  and  to  the  house  of  a cousin  at  Geneva, 
N.  Y.  The  last  entry  in  his  journal  was  : “ August  20, 


192 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


1846. — Wonderfully  preserved!  With  a kind  and  de- 
gree of  disease  which  generally  lias  a speedy  issue,  I live 
on.  All  things  are  mine.  God  sustains  me  through 
wearisome  days,  and  tedious,  painful  nights.  Simple 
faith  in  his  word  keeps  my  mind  in  peace,  hut  he  gener- 
ously adds  strong  consolation.  When  I embarked  for 
home,  the  latter  part  of  the  fifth  chapter  of  Hebrews  was 
blessed  to  the  production  of  the  assurance  of  hope,  or 
something  akin  to  it.  I have  not  lost  it.  Death  has  no 
sting.  Oh,  may  the  Conqueror  continue  with  me  till  the 

close,  and  then  ! ! ! ” 

He  had  reached  Albany,  on  his  return  South,  when 
he  could  proceed  no  further.  At  an  allusion  to  his  ap- 
proaching end,  his  countenance  would  light  up  with  a 
smile  of  holy  confidence,  as  he  spoke  freely  and  fondly 
of  the  coming  glories  on  which  he  was  about  to  enter. 
He  had,  with  perfect  composure,  given  minute  directions 
concerning  his  affairs,  and  where  his  body  should  be 
laid;  and  then,  having  peacefully  taken  leave  of  the 
world  and  his  friends,  he  chose  to  be  left  alone  in  his 
death-chamber  with  his  physician  and  his  God.  Then 
came  the  physical  struggle,  and  he  slept  in  J esus,  Septem- 
ber 4th,  1846,  aged  forty-two  years.  His  remains  were 
interred  in  Greenwood  cemetery,  near  New  York,  where 
the  Sabbath  School  children  have  erected  a monument  to 
his  memory;  but  a far  more  lasting  monument  to  his 
name  is  found  in  the  mission  planted  by  him  at  Amoy. 


ASHMORE. 


193 


ASHMORE. 

Mrs.  Martha  Ann  Ashmore,  wife  of  Rev.  William 
Ashmore,  and  daughter  of  Deacon  Daniel  Sanderson, 
was  born  at  Dorchester,  Mass.,  October  21,  1821.  At 
the  age  of  nine  years  she  became  a member  of  the  Bap- 
tist chnrch  in  Brookline,  and  to  the  end  of  life  she  was 
a living  epistle  of  Christ.  She  was  a pupil  in  the  Sab- 
bath-school class  of  the  late  Mrs.  Comstock,  who  sleeps 
in  Arracan,  and  partook  largely  of  her  type  of  piety  and 
missionary  spirit.  She  was  first  a pupil,  and  afterward 
a teacher  in  the  Female  Seminary  at  West  Townsend, 
Mass.  Her  mind  was  of  that  order  which  not  only  gave 
her  the  fruits  of  study,  but  also  induced  her  to  examine 
the  root  of  things.  She  not  only  measured  her  lessons, 
but  mastered  them.  She  did  not  long  idly  gaze  at  diffi- 
culties, but  at  once  grappled  with  them,  and  soon  gained 
the  victory.  As  a teacher  she  was  popular  and  success- 
ful, and  well  qualified  to  give  instruction  in  most  branches 
of  a higher  education.  In  August,  1850,  she  was  mar- 
ried to  the  Rev.  William  Ashmore,  and  on  the  18th  of 
that  month  they  sailed  for  China.  In  the  beginning  of 
1851  they  landed  at  Hong  Kong,  where  they  remained 
for  a few  weeks,  then  proceeded  to  their  station  at  Bang- 
kok, where  they  landed  April  14,  1851.  There,  amid  a 
Chinese  population  of  two  or  three  hundred  thousand, 
with  a promising  native  church  among  the  Chinese, 
they  enjoyed  an  inviting  field  for  labor.  Mr.  Ashmore 
soon  so  far  mastered  the  language,  as  to  preach  suc- 
cessfully the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ  to  the  Gen- 

9 


194 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


tiles,  and  gave  important  instruction  to  the  native  preach- 
ers ; while  Mrs.  Ashmore  was  employed  in  teaching  the 
children  of  the  church  members,  conducting  a female 
prayer  meeting  among  the  native  women,  and  such  other 
services  as,  in  her  noiseless  way,  were  made  to  tell  largely 
on  the  success  of  the  mission,  though  not  written  on  the 
programme  of  their  proceedings. 

In  1856  Mrs.  Ashmore,  having  suffered  from  a cough 
and  bronchial  difficulty,  attempted  a sea  voyage  as  a 
remedy,  but  the  vessel  proved  unseaworthv,  and  after 
seven  days  of  imminent  peril,  they  put  back  to  port. 
Again  they  sailed,  and  finally  reached  Hong  Kong  Jan- 
uary 19,  1858,  and  thence  Mrs.  Ashmore  proceeded  to- 
wards the  United  States  with  her  children,  in  company 
with  the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  leaving  Mr.  Ash- 
more in  charge  of  the  mission  at  Hong  Kong.  The  voy- 
agers had  not  measured  half  the  distance  across  the  wide 
waters,  when  Mrs.  Ashmore,  in  mid  ocean,  far  away  from 
her  husband  among  the  heathen,  and  still  farther  from 
parents  and  loved  ones  at  the  home  of  her  childhood, 
with  two  helpless  children  holding  on  to  her  mantle, 
was  parted  from  them  and  taken  up  to  heaven — while 
they  cried,  my  mother ! my  mother ! ! But  while  her 
happy  spirit  found  as  near  a passage  from  an  Indian 
sea,  as  from  an  American  home,  to  her  mansion  in 
heaven,  her  body  will  find  as  quiet  rest  in  its  coral 
bed,  and  thence  as  sure  a resurrection  to  the  skies, 
as  if  left  beneath  the  shady  groves  of  a New  England 
grave. 

The  time  was  when  a missionary  band  formed  a moral 
insurance  company  for  a ship — for  a missionary  surely 


ASHMORE. 


195 


can  not  be  lost  at  sea.  But  this  thought  is  as  nearly  su- 
perstitious as  the  one  that  makes  a “black coat”  an  omen 
of  evil  to  the  voyage.  The  record  of  missionaries  buried 
in  the  sea  connected  with  the  China  mission  alone  makes 
a mournful  list  of  mortality.  In  this  roll  we  have  to 
write  the  names  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James,  Messrs.  Benham, 
Lowrie,  Fast,  Pohlman,  Spaulding,  luce,  Wolfe,  Collie, 
Kichards,  Farmer,  Byers,  French,  Mrs.  Jenks  and  Mrs. 
Ashmore,  all  of  whom  found  a watery,  grave. 

We  have  occasion  to  rejoice  in  the  inspired  assurance 
that  the  sea  shall  give  up  the  dead  that  are  in  it. 

Of  the  character  of  our  departed  sister  we  need  say  no 
more.  From  what  has  already  been  stated  we  should  ex- 
pect to  find  in  manner  a modesty  which  is  the  accompa- 
niment of  generous  endowments  and  high  mental  culture. 
In  this,  those  who  enjoyed  her  acquaintance  were  not 
disappointed.  Her  form  and  features  might  have  been 
passed  without  special  notice  by  a stranger,  but  when 
lighted  up  by  the  radiance  of  her  mind,  and  softened  by 
the  refinement  of  her  feelings,  and  flushed  by  the  warm 
upgushings  of  her  generous  heart,  her  face  was  more  than 
beautiful.  She  attracted  by  the  intelligence  of  her  coun- 
tenance and  charmed  by  the  kindness  of  her  heart  and 
the  symmetry  of  her  womanly  character.  Her  children 
have  found  an  excellent  home  at  the  house  of  their 
grandparents,  but  none  can  supply  to  them  the  loss  of 
such  a mother. 

She  was  fitted  by  her  varied  accomplishments  and  in- 
tellectual cultivation  to  adorn  any  circle — she  wrote  much 
and  well — but  her  greatest  usefulness  was  found  in  the 
appropriate  duties  of  a missionary’s  wife — in  the  care  and 


196 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


culture  of  her  children,  and  in  making  her  home  the 
happy  retreat  of  her  husband,  in  whose  labors  she  sym- 
pathised, and  to  whose  success  she  largely  contributed. 

One  of  her  associates  in  the  mission  writing  from 
Bangkok,  says:  ‘‘Her  grave  is  in  the  ocean  where  no 
monumental  marble  can  mark  her  resting  place,  or  speak 
her  virtues  to  the  passing  stranger.  But  she  needs  no 
marble  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  her  excellences ; 
they  are  written  in  the  hearts  of  all  who  knew  her,  and 
what  is  far  better,  in  the  Lamb’s  book  of  life.” 

She  has  gone  to  join,  with  some  of  the  redeemed  from 
the  Chinese  church  at  Bangkok,  in  the  chorus  to  Him  who 
died  to  redeem  us  to  God  by  his  blood,  out  of  every 
kindred  and  tongue  and  people  and  nation. 


BALL. 

Mrs.  Lucy  Ball  was  a native  of  New  Haven,  Con- 
necticut, where  resided  her  widowed  mother,  Mrs.  Mills, 
and  her  sister,  the  wife  of  E.  F.  Babcock,  Esq. 

In  1827  she  was  married  to  the  Bev.  Dyer  Ball,  M.  D., 
and  soon  after  removed,  under  the  direction  of  the  Home 
Missionary  Society,  to  St.  Augustine,  Florida,  where 
their  eldest  daughter  was  born.  They  afterward  removed 
to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  the  birth-place  of  their 
second  daughter,  and  where  they  remained  till  near  the 
time  of  their  embarkation  on  a mission  to  the  Chinese  in 
1838.  Thejr  went  out  under  the  patronage  of  the  Ameri- 
can Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  and 
were  first  stationed  at  Singapore,  where  Dr.  Ball  was  sue- 


BALL. 


197 


cessfully  employed  in  preaching,  printing  tracts,  and 
attending  to  the  sick;  while  Mrs.  Ball,  aided  by  her 
daughters,  instructed  a school  of  Chinese  girls.  These 
girls  made  good  progress  in  reading  their  native  language, 
and  were  also  taught  needlework  and  vocal  music. 

In  1841,  in  consequence  of  Mrs.  Ball’s  feeble  health, 
they  removed  to  China,  and  found  in  the  cooler  climate 
of  Macao  a restoration  to  health  which  had  in  vain  been 
sought  from  medicine.  Macao  was  the  birth-place  of 
their  second  son,  and  Singapore  that  of  his  elder  brother. 
In  1843  Dr.  Ball  removed  his  family  to  Hong  Kong, 
where  he  resumed  his  missionary  labors  by  superintend- 
ing the  Chinese  printing,  administering  medicine  to  the 
sick,  and  conducting  daily  religious  worship  with  the  na- 
tives, while  his  family  instructed  a school  of  Chinese  boys. 

Mrs.  Ball,  with  her  slender  frame  and  distressing  cough, 
which  for  months  had  wasted  away  her  strength,  still  con- 
tinued an  oversight  of  the  school  and  a superintendence 
of  her  domestic  affairs  till  a few  days  before  her  death, 
which  occurred  at  Hong  Kong  June  6,  1844,  aged  thirty- 
six  years. 

This  first  and  fearful  breach  in  the  domestic  relations 
of  a family  whose  members  were  bound  together  by  ties 
of  more  than  ordinary  affection,  and  whose  constant 
study  seemed  to  be  to  promote  each  other’s  happiness, 
was  not  effected  without  a severe  struggle  in  each  heart, 
but  the  Christian’s  hope  enabled  the  surviving  husband 
and  elder  children  to  acquiesce  in  the  painful  dispensa- 
tion of  their  Father  in  heaven. 

Of  the  private  worth  of  Mrs.  Ball,  we  find  honorable 
testimony  in  the  character  and  filial  attachment  of  her 


198 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


children;  of  her  usefulness  as  a Christian  teacher,  we 
find  proof  in  the  veneration  of  those  Chinese  youth 
who  enjoyed  her  instruction,  aud  who  rise  up  to  call 
her  blessed;  and  of  her  enlightened  piety  and  Christian 
virtues,  we  have  favorable  witnesses  in  all  who  ever  lis- 
tened to  her  words  and  looked  upon  the  order  and  hap- 
piness of  her  household. 

Her  two  little  boys  soon  followed  her  to  the  spirit 
world,  leaving  their  bodies  by  the  side  of  their  mother’s 
grave  on  the  hills  of  China.  The  two  daughters,  Mrs. 
Iiapper  and  Mrs.  French,  inheriting  her  spirit,  and  fol- 
lowing her  example,  became  missionaries’  wives,  and 
engaged  successfully  in  teaching  the  females  of  China  to 
become  the  followers  of  Christ. 


BENE  AM. 

Rev.  Nathan  Benham  was  born  in  Shardaken,  Ulster 
county,  New  York,  August  23,  1810.  He  made  a public 
profession  of  religion  in  Byron,  Genesee  county,  New 
York,  in  1830,  and  soon  after  commenced  his  studies  for 
the  ministry.  He  received  his  collegiate  and  theological 
education  at  Hudson,  Ohio,  where  he  also  officiated  for 
one  year  as  tutor.  On  the  4th  of  March,  1839,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Maria  A.  Nutting,  of  Groton,  Massachu- 
setts, and  having  received  an  appoiutment  as  a missionary 
to  the  Chinese,  he  sailed,  with  Mrs.  Benham  and  others, 
from  Boston,  July  6,  1839,  and  landed  at  Singapore,  Oc- 
tober 23.  He  reached  Bangkok,  his  destination,  March  3, 
1840,  and  entered  at  once,  with  great  promise  of  success, 


B E N H A M. 


199 


upon  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  hut,  after  one 
short  month,  he  was  drowned  in  the  river  Menam.  On 
the  evening  of  the  6th  of  April,  1840,  he  had  been  at- 
tending the  monthly  concert  of  prayer  at  the  house  of 
a Christian  friend,  whose  dwelling  was  about  two  miles 
from  his  residence,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  river, 
lie  passed  the  evening  very  pleasantly,  and  his  prayers 
and  remarks  were  highly  edifying  to  his  brethren.  At 
the  close  of  the  meeting,  he  entered  his  boat,  with  three 
Chinese  boatmen,  and  after  pulling  long  against  an  op- 
posing tide,  they  came  at  length  opposite  to  his  dwelling, 
and,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river,  the  boat  was  driven 
by  the  current  against  the  cable  of  a large  junk  and  up- 
set, and  he  sank  in  the  stream.  Immediate  search  was 
made  for  the  body,  which  rose  to  the  surface  on  the  sec- 
ond day  after  the  drowning.  His  pocket  money,  keys, 
and  watch,  were  found  on  his  person,  affording  proof 
that  his  death  was  not  designed  by  the  men. 

Mr.  Benham,  in  person,  was  much  above  the  common 
stature,  and  as  far  excelled  the  common  class  of  men  in 
intellectual  endowments,  possessing  a great  gift  of  lan- 
guage, and  a large  fund  of  cheerfulness,  and  all  these 
were  consecrated  to  the  service  of  his  Master.  Few  men, 
if  any,  have  ever  been  known  to  discover  so  soon,  and  to 
grapple  so  successfully,  with  the  difficulties  of  the  Chi- 
nese language  as  he.  When  he  slept,  it  was  said  that  a 
great  and  good  man  had  fallen  in  Israel.  He  remarked, 
at  the  prayer  meeting,  about  an  hour  before  his  death, 
alluding  to  the  fewness  of  those  who  attend  the  monthly 
concert,  that  not  more  than  one  tenth  of  those  who  bear 
the  Christian  name  attend  these  meetings.  Not  with- 


200 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


standing,  he  adds,  all  these  discouragements,  “ at  even- 
^ ing  time  it  shall  be  light.”  “ Holiness  to  the  Lord  shall 
be  written  on  the  bells  of  the  horses.”  0 that  the  dying 
testimony  of  our  brother  against  the  churches  on  this 
subject  might  be  heeded ! How  can  they  expect  great 
success  to  attend  the  work  of  their  missionaries,  unless 
they  offer  earnest,  united  prayer  to  God  ? While  pastors 
and  people  neglect  the  monthly  concert  for  prayer — while 
those  who  pray  on  such  occasions,  lose  all  their  fervor 
and  faith  when  they  come  to  pray  for  the  very  objeet  in 
question,  how  can  we  expect  the  heathen  to  be  converted 
to  God  ? He  has  said,  Ask  and  ye  shall  receive ; and,  the 
effectual  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous  man  availeth 
much. 


BOONE. 

Mrs.  Boone,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  W.  J.  Boone, 
Bishop  of  the  American  Episcopal  Mission  in  China, 
and  daughter  of  the  Honorable  Henry  De  Saussure, 
Chancellor  of  the  State  of  South  Carolina,  left  the 
United  States  with  her  husband  in  1836,  and  settled 
first  at  Batavia.  There  Bishop  Boone  commenced  his 
labors  among  the  Chinese,  and  in  1840  left  Java,  and 
resided  at  Macao,  till  the  occupation  of  Amoy  by  the 
British  forces,  when  they  removed  there,  and  in  company 
with  the  Rev.  Hr.  Abeel  and  Dr.  Cumming,  took  up 
their  residence  on  the  small  island  of  Kulangsu,  which 
is  separated  from  the  city  of  Amoy  by  a narrow  chan- 
nel of  water. 

Mrs.  Boone,  with  high  intellectual  endowments,  and 


BOONE. 


201 


culture,  and  attractive  social  virtues,  rendered  her  house 
the  home  of  happiness  to  her  family,  the  hallowed  re- 
treat for  other  lonely  missionaries,  who  found,  after  the 
day  of  self-denying  toil  and  personal  contact  with 
paganism,  a pleasing  relief  while  enjoying  in  common 
their  evening  repast,  under  the  refining  social  influences 
of  this  Christian  family.  Mrs.  Boone  was  the  sun  of 
that  circle,  shedding  light  and  happiness  not  only  upon 
her  own  cheerful  household,  but  also  into  the  dark  abodes 
of  paganism  around  her,  and  by  her  example  and  in- 
fluence was  doing  much  to  prove  to  the  heathen,  the 
promised  results  of  Christianity,  by  presenting  in  her 
person  the  intelligent,  the  loved,  and  honored  woman — 
and  in  her  home,  the  loving,  cheerful  and  happy  family. 
But  after  a few  short  months  that  light  was  put  out,  the 
children  wept  as  orphans,  the  husband  mourned  a widow, 
and  friends  were  clothed  in  sorrow,  and  even  the  heathen 
smote  upon  their  breasts  for  grief,  when  they  saw  the  death 
of  one  who  had  walked  among  them  as  an  angel  of  mercy. 
She  died  at  Kulangsu  of  fever,  on  the  30th  of  August, 
after  an  illness  of  ten  days.  Her  funeral  was  attended  by 
many  of  the  officers  of  the  army  and  navy,  then  stationed 
at  Kulangsu,  and  the  flags  were  lowered  half  mast.  The 
city  of  Amoy,  about  two  days’  sail  north-east  from 
Hong  Kong,  is  situated  in  24°  north  latitude  on  an 
island  of  the  same  name.  The  island  is  about  thirty- 
five  miles  in  circuit,  and  about  ten  miles  across,  contain- 
ing one  hundred  and  thirty-six  villages,  and  an  aggregate 
population  of  about  four  hundred  thousand.  The  produc- 
tions are  chiefly  sweet  potatoes,  paddy,  wheat,  sugar- 
cane, ground-nuts,  and  garden  vegetables.  Much  of  the 

9* 


202 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


island  is  rocky  and  barren,  and  with  few  exceptions  the 
eye  searches  in  vain  for  the  larger  specimens  of  the 
vegetable  kingdom.  On  the  hills  a few  scattered  fir- 
trees  are  growing,  and  a few  shade  trees  have  been 
planted  about  their  gardens.  The  city  of  Amoy,  situ- 
ated on  the  western  side  of  the  island,  has  a population 
of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand,  while  the  sur- 
rounding hills  are  occupied  by  the  graves  of  the  dead. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  city  are  chiefly  engaged  in  com- 
merce or  manufactures  for  home  consumption.  The 
chief  articles  exported  hence,  it  would  seem,  are  shoes  and 
umbrellas.  There  are  probably  three  hundred  junks 
trading  here,  many  of  them  the  property  of  Amoy  mer- 
chants. They  trade  with  the  northern  and  southern 
ports  of  China,  with  the  island  of  Formosa,  Singapore, 
Batavia,  Bangkok,  besides  smaller  boats  which  run  in 
large  numbers  with  passengers  and  merchandise,  between 
Amoy  and  many  of  the  important  places  on  the  main 
land  and  far  interior.  Its  position  gives  to  Amoy  many 
advantages,  in  a commercial  point  of  view,  over  any 
other  city  in  the  province  of  Fuhkien. 


BRIDGMAN. 

James  Gr.  Bridgman,  a native  of  the  town  of  Am- 
herst, Massachusetts,  was  a graduate  of  Amherst  College, 
and  landed  in  China,  February,  1844,  where,  after  pursu- 
ing his  studies  in  Chinese  and  in  divinity,  he  was  ordained 
to  the  gospel  ministry  in  Canton,  May  81,  1846.  He  had 
there  completed  a translation,  from  Latin,  of  Premare’s 


CLOPTON. 


203 


Notitia,  which  was  published  the  following  year.  In 
May,  1847,  Mr.  Bridgman  took  charge  of  the  office  of 
the  Chinese  Repository,  and  continued  to  supervise  the 
publication  of  its  numbers  until  September,  1848.  After 
that  time  he  resided  in  Canton,  engaged  in  usual  mis- 
sionary labors  and  in  the  study  of  the  language.  During 
the  last  six  months  of  his  life  he  had  gradually  with- 
drawn from  general  society  and  confined  himself  chiefly 
to  his  house.  Those  who  saw  most  of  him  during  this 
season  observed  symptoms  of  a disordered  mind;  but 
medical  advice  was  not  called  till  November  30th,  1850, 
when  symptoms  of  cerebral  affection  were  apparent. 
Measures  were  promptly  adopted  to  relieve  the  conges- 
tion of  the  brain ; yet  the  next  morning,  in  a paroxysm 
of  the  disease,  he  attempted  self-destruction.  Reason 
was  restored  by  the  loss  of  blood,  and  he  was  conscious 
during  the  five  days  he  survived.  A post-mortem  ex- 
amination showed  a highly  congested  state  of  the  brain. 
Mr.  B.  Avas  highly  respected  b}^  all  who  knew  him,  for 
his  consistent  Christian  character,  kindness  and  uniform 
gentleness  of  heart ; and  in  his  death,  which  occurred  at 
Canton,  December  6th,  1851,  aged  thirty  years,  the  cause 
of  missions  sustained  a great  loss.  He  was  a missionary 
of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M. 


CLOPTON. 

Rev.  Samuel  Cornelius  Clopton  sailed  from  New 
York,  January  2 2d,  1846,  and  reached  China,  after  a 
voyage  of  one  hundred  days,  in  company  with  Mrs. 


204 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Clopton  and  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pearcy,  of  the  Southern 
Baptist  Convention,  and  other  passengers  for  China.  He 
died  at  Canton  on  the  7th  of  July,  1847,  after  an  illness 
of  ten  days,  aged  thirty-one  years. 

Mr.  Clopton  studied  theology  at  Newton,  Massachu- 
setts, where  he  left  the  reputation  of  a prayerful,  godly 
young  man,  zealous  for  his  Master’s  glory  and  the  good 
of  souls.  He  was  a man  of  pleasing  address,  and  took 
with  him  to  China,  the  physical,  the  mental  and  Chris- 
tian qualities  which  gave  promise  of  a career  of  great 
usefulness. 

It  is  supposed  that  Mr.  Clopton,  being  fresh  from  his 
native  land  and  in  the  full  strength  of  youthful  manhood, 
had  contracted  a fever  by  exposure  to  the  hot  sun,  while 
attending  the  funeral  services  of  his  fellow-passenger, 
from  America,  the  Hon.  A.  H.  Everett,  minister  of  the 
United  States  to  China,  who  died  June  29th,  1847,  soon 
after  landing  at  Canton. 

This  distinguished  scholar  and  statesman  was  a grad- 
uate of  Harvard  University;  studied  law  in  the  office 
of  J.  Q.  Adams;  went  as  private  secretary  to  St.  Peters- 
burg in  1809 ; succeeded  Mr.  Eustice  as  charge  d’affaires 
in  Netherlands  in  1818  ; was  appointed  minister  to  the 
court  of  Spain  in  1825  ; returned  to  Boston,  his  native 
city,  in  1829,  where  he  edited  the  North  American  Re- 
view ; served  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the 
Senate  for  several  years,  and  in  1845  was  appointed  min- 
ister to  the  court  of  Pekin. 

Having  made  the  voyage  with  him  to  China,  the  writ- 
er is  prepared  to  say,  that,  as  a statesman  and  a scholar, 
he  was  not  inferior  to  his  surviving  brother,  the  Hon. 


COLLIE.  — COLLINS. 


205 


Edward  Everett,  which  is  saying  enough  in  the  praise 
of  any  man. 


COLLIE. 

Rev.  David  Collie,  was  a missionary  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  sent  to  Malacca  1822  ; and  died  at  sea 
1828.  He  was  for  a season  principal  of  the  Anglo-Chi- 
nese  College,  and  prepared  a complete  translation  of  the 
Four  Books.  He  has  left  proof  of  having  mastered  the 
Chinese  language  in  an  unusually  short  time,  and  afford- 
ed promise  of  great  usefulness  by  the  energy  and  success 
attending  his  labors  during  the  six  years  of  his  mission- 
ary career.  His  life  and  labors  deserve  a more  extended 
sketch  than  we  now  have  the  power  to  present. 


COLLINS. 

Rev.  Judson  D.  Collins'  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Rose,  Wayne  county,  N.  Y.,  February  12th,  1822.  His 
parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  their  house  a home  for  itinerant  ministers.  Reared 
under  such  influences,  it  was  not  easy  for  him  to  recall 
his  first  religious  impressions,  and  he  grew  up  under  the 
advantages  of  family  worship,  the  Sabbath  School,  and 
the  gospel  ministry. 

In  1831  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Michigan, 
and  settled  in  the  town  of  Pittsfield,  Washtenaw  county, 


206 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


where  he  labored  with  his  father  and  brothers  on  a farm 
in  summer,  and  attended  the  district  school  in  winter. 

On  the  opening  of  the  academy  at  Ann  Arbor,  he 
walked  morning  and  evening  three  miles  and  a half  to 
enjoy  its  benefits.  He  was  a member  of  the  first  class 
in  Michigan  University,  where  he  graduated  in  1845. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  he  became  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  from  that  time  to 
the  day  of  his  death  his  life  was  marked  by  Christian 
courtesy,  social  cheerfulness,  and  active  piety.  As  he 
acquired  ability,  he  was  successfully  employed  in  Sab- 
bath School  instruction,  in  Bible  distribution,  and  in  acts 
of  charity  to  the  poor,  visits  of  counsel  to  the  erring 
in  prison,  and  words  of  consolation  to  the  unfortunate 
in  the  asylum.  As  a class-leader,  steward,  and  local 
preacher,  he  sought  in  the  spirit  of  his  Master  to  dis- 
charge the  varied  duties  imposed  upon  him  by  the  disci- 
pline of  the  church  of  his  choice. 

In  1845  he  was  employed  as  professor  of  Natural  and 
Moral  Science  in  the  Wesleyan  Seminary  at  Albion, 
where  he  rendered  the  highest  satisfaction  to  patrons  and 
pupils. 

At  an  early  period  in  his  religious  history,  he  seems 
to  have  been  devoted  to  the  missionary  work,  and  his 
mind  was  led  to  China  before  the  Methodist  church  had 
a mission  in  that  country,  and  expressed  his  willingness 
to  work  his  way  there  before  the  mast,  provided  he  could 
reach  the  country  in  no  other  way. 

He  had  made  application  to  be  sent  on  a mission  to 
China,  and  accepted  in  the  meantime  a temporary  ap- 
pointment as  a circuit  preacher  in  1846. 


COLLINS. 


207 


Dr.  Hinman  says  of  him,  “I  well  remember  the  pecu- 
liar emotions  I experienced,  and  the  feelings  of  admira- 
tion I had  for  the  Christ-like  devotion  of  our  brother, 
when  I heard  from  his  own  lips  a modest  narrative  of 
his  life.  He  was  then  on  his  circuit,  traveling  on  foot, 
preaching  on  the  Sabbath  and  week  days,  and  visiting 
from  house  to  house  to  gather  up  the  scattered  sheep  of 
the  wilderness.  The  college  graduate,  the  seminary  pro- 
fessor, the  gospel  preacher — without  a permanent  home, 
threading  his  way  through  uncultivated  wilds  on  foot, 
solitary  and  alone,  with  the  love  of  souls  burning  in  his 
heart — how  I admired  him  ! How  I loved  his  devotion 
to  the  cause  of  Christ ! He  was  then  in  hourly  expecta- 
tion of  a call  from  the  Missionary  Board  to  go  to  China. 
I was  with  him  when  he  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  letter 
in  a distant  village.  It  was  dark,  and  the  village  was 
distant ; he  could  hardly  stay  for  a piece  of  bread  before 
he  was  on  his  way  for  his  commission.  Before  the  morn- 
ing sunlight  he  had  it  in  his  hand.  He  opened  it,  and 
saw  enough — there  was  China!  The  big  tear  stood  in 
his  eye ; his  heart  swelled  with  emotion  ; and  on  his 
knees  he  thanked  God  he  was  a missionary  to  China. 
To  the  antiquarian,  the  historian,  the  philosopher,  or  the 
tradesman,  there  is  something  wonderfully  exciting  in 
this  land ; but  for  him  it  was  a vast  continent  of  souls  in 
idolatrous  darkness — an  inviting,  yet  a fearful  field.” 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1847,  he  took  leave  of  his  friends 
at  home,  and  proceeded  to  Rochester,  Hew  York,  where 
he  met  his  colleague,  Rev.  M.  White.  On  the  15th  of 
April  he  sailed  from  Boston  for  Hong  Kong,  China. 

The  writer  well  remembers  the  landing  of  this  good 


208 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


brother  at  Hong  Kong,  where  his  simple  manners,  warm 
piety  and  good  sense  gained  him  friends  in  a land  of 
strangers.  On  the  6th  of  September,  1847,  he  reached 
his  station  at  Fuh  Chan.  This  is  one  of  the  five  ports 
opened  to  foreign  commerce  by  the  treaties  of  1842.  It 
is  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Fukien,  in  latitude  26° 
north,  and  longitude  119°  east,  situated  about  five  hun- 
dred miles  up  the  coast  from  Hong  Kong,  and  on  the 
Min  river,  thirty-five  miles  from  its  mouth.  The  banks 
of  the  Min  remind  the  traveler  of  the  wildness  and 
beauty  of  the  scenery  of  the  Hudson.  Here,  in  a city  of  • 
half  a million  of  pagans,  with  half  a million  more  in  the 
suburbs,  our  friend  soon  commenced  his  efforts  at  the 
herculean  task  of  learning  the  language.  He  had  shared 
in  the  usual  experience  of  missionaries  first  locating  in 
a Chinese  city,  by  negotiating  for  a dwelling  and  then  not 
getting  possession  of  it,  till  finally,  after  several  vain  at- 
tempts to  get  a location  within  the  city  walls,  he  built  a 
house  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  which  he  entered 
on  the  1st  of  April.  Of  his  lot  of  ground  he  says  : “It 
is  on  a hill  with  olive  trees  growing  upon  it.  It  is  one 
hundred  and  seventy  feet  long,  and  one  hundred  and 
twenty  wide,  for  which  I am  to  pay  rent  forty-four  dollars 
per  annum. 

“ All  the  timber  for  the  house  is  brought  to  the  ground 
on  men’s  shoulders.  Some  of  the  pieces  are  a foot  in 
diameter  and  sixty  feet  long.  They  are  brought  a quar- 
ter of  a mile  over  a miserably  rough,  hilly  way. 

“ Men  teams  have  the  entire  monopoly  here.  It  is 
hard,  tearing  work,  and  they  receive  from  ten  to  fifteen 
cents  per  day  for  their  services,  and  board  themselves.” 


COLLINS. 


209 


September  20tb  be  writes,  “ the  weather  is  warm,  the 
thermometer  having  stood  at  90°  for  several  days.  We 
live  on  the  banks  of  the  Min  river  where  I can  run  out 
in  the  early  morning  and  take  a bath,  which  I find  very 
refreshing.  I read  the  Bible  in  Greek  and  Hebrew  be- 
fore breakfast,  and  study  Chinese  during  the  day.  I 
write  and  do  miscellaneous  work  in  the  evening.  At 
four  o’clock  this  afternoon  I walked  into  the  country. 
They  have  no  roads  or  farms  as  in  our  country.  I trav- 
eled along  a winding  foot-path  among  the  tombs  and 
trees  perhaps  two  miles,  when  I came  upon  a village  of 
perhaps  a hundred  houses.  They  were  of  one  story, 
high  walls  of  plaster  with  tiled  roofs.  I passed  peach 
and  olive  orchards,  and  orange  and  banyan  trees,  and 
sugar-cane  growing  like  Indian  corn.  I passed  through 
rice  fields  on  a path  composed  of  huge  blocks  of  granite. 
The  rice  fields  are  like  our  marshes,  being  covered  with 
water.  The  rice  is  sown,  and  when  it  springs  up  it  is  all 
transplanted  into  drills,  about  eight  inches  apart ; it  is 
now  just  beginning  to  head.  I saw  a few  small  cattle 
well  formed  and  in  good  condition ; all  tied,  as  there  are 
no  fences  in  the  country.  Large  quantities  of  manure  are 
borne  on  men’s  shoulders  from  the  cities  to  the  country 
for  enriching  the  land.  I met  a boy  fishing  in  a kind 
of  cistern  for  tadpoles,  of  which  he  had  a string  a foot  in 
length.  The  hills  outside  the  city  are  reserved  for  bury- 
ing places,  with  here  and  there  a little  incense  house 
among  the  tombs.  0 how  dark  are  their  minds  in  rela- 
tion to  eternity  ! I distributed  a few  tracts,  which  the 
people  gladly  received. 

“ October  1.  I have  had  a new  teacher  to-day,  and 


210 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


think  I shall  he  pleased  with  him.  You  wonder  how  we 
manage  with  our  teachers  as  each  is  unacquainted  with 
each  other’s  language,  and  really  it  is  a predicament  to 
he  in.  The  teacher  comes  in  clothed  in  a long  white 
gown,  hare-headed,  his  cue  hanging  down  his  hack  nearly 
to  his  heels,  and  his  long  white  stockings  tied  over  his 
trowsers  below  the  knee.  He  hows  obsequiously  and  I 
motion  him  to  a seat  by  the  table.  Thus  far  we  have 
progressed  finely,  hut  now  comes  the  tug  of  war.  For 
a few  minutes  we  sit  eyeing  each  other.  I make  the 
first  demonstration  by  writing  some  word  in  Chinese, 
which  I have  somewhere  picked  up.  He  pronounces 
it ; and  I pronounce  it  after  him.  This  goes  badly.  I 
touch  my  head,  and  flourish  it  towards  him.  He 
stares  at  me,  not  knowing  hut  lam  mad.  At  length 
the  poor  man  sees  what  I am  at.  I want  the  Chinese 
word  for  head , and  he  pronounces  it.  I cheer  him,  and 
write  it  down,  and  flourish  for  him  to  write  the  Chi- 
nese; he  takes  the  little  brush  pencil  and  writes  it,  and 
I imitate  him.  I next  touch  my  nose,  and  the  same 
process  is  gone  through  with,  and  so  on  with  various 
things.  Now  and  then  I pick  up  a Chinese  word.  I 
make  what  use  I can  of  books,  and  so  creep  along,  d la 
baby. 

“October  9.  I visited  a mountain  east  of  the  city, 
which  is  said  to  be  three  thousand  feet  high.  I had  a grand 
prospect.  I could  see  the  ocean  and  the  whole  valley  of 
Fuh  Chau.  There  were  five  hundred  pagan  villages  in 
sight,  all  accessible  to  the  gospel.  The  fields  are  white. 
Pray  ye,  therefore,  the  Lord  of  the  vineyard,  that  he 
send  more  laborers. 


COLLINS. 


211 


“February  28,  1848.  A school  was  organized  of  eight 
boys ; and,  March  4,  a Sunday  School  was  opened.  0, 
it  was  a sight  to  gladden  the  angels!  These  little  Chi- 
nese boys,  hitherto  nurtured  in  the  darkness  of  heathen- 
ism, and  in  the  midst  of  idolatrous  rites,  assembled  for 
the  purpose  of  learning  the  claims  of  the  great  Jehovah  ; 
and  when  thus  assembled,  to  hear  them  repeating  these 
blessed  principles  of  inspiration — to  see  their  eyes  spark- 
ling with  delight,  it  seemed  as  though  they  were  casting 
their  idolatry  away,  and  receiving  into  their  minds  the 
word  of  God.  I bless  God  for  permitting  me  to  witness 
such  a sight,  and  to  participate  in  such  an  honor.” 

In  August  following  he  opened  a place  for  preaching 
the  word  and  giving  tracts.  He  went  with  a trembling 
heart,  but  met  a good  company  and  encouraging  atten- 
tion from  the  pagan  people,  to  this  his  first  attempt  at 
preaching  to  the  heathen. 

He  traveled  about  the  country  unprotected  by  human 
power,  sailing  their  rivers,  climbing  their  hills,  passing- 
through  their  cities,  and  over  their  plains,  scattering  the 
truth  on  the  printed  page,  and  speaking  words  of  salva- 
tion to  those  who  never  before  had  looked  upon  a for- 
eigner. At  one  time,  he  wandered  about  seventy  miles 
from  his  station,  and,  attempting  to  climb  a high  hill,  lost 
his  path.  Hearing  there  the  voice  of  a woodman  on  the 
mountain,  he  called  him  to  his  aid.  The  old  man  came, 
and,  at  the  first  sight  of  the  outsider , seemed  scarcely  to 
know  whether  to  fight  or  fly.  A promise  of  cash,  and  a 
few  kind  words,  brought  him  to  terms,  and  he  led  him 
to  the  top  of  the  mountain.  Here  he  says  the  “ scene 
was  surpassingly  grand.  Toward  Fuh  Chau,  a moun- 


212 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


tain,  more  lofty  than  our  own,  intercepted  our  view,  but 
to  the  north  and  east  sight  had  its  widest  range.  The 
river  was  at  our  feet,  and  along  its  upward  channel  hill 
arose  beyond  hill,  and  mountain  above  and  beyond  moun- 
tain, till  earth  and  sky  were  blended  in  impenetrable  dis- 
tance. We  hastened  down  to  the  river,  and  about  sunset 
began  our  homeward  way.  The  current  was  strong,  and 
swept  us  rapidly  on  till  dark,,  when  we  ran  behind  the 
bank,  and  took  position  for  the  night.” 

“ August  27,  1819.  The  Chinese  language  is  multi- 
form, yet  but  one.  The  written  character  is  common  to 
the  empire,  and  in  all  parts  of  it  those  who  know  how  to 
read  look  upon  the  same  book  and  understand  it  alike. 
Collect  men  from  different  parts,  however,  and  while  they 
are  thus  silently  looking  at  the  characters  of  the  same 
work,  and  the  same  train  of  thought  is  passing  through 
the  mind  of  each,  just  then  tell  them  to  read  aloud,  and 
you  would  have  a Babel  let  loose,  every  one  speaking 
but  not  hearing  in  his  own  tongue,  for  the  pronunciation 
of  the  same  character  in  the  different  dialects  differs  very 
materially. 

“Now  set  a Fuh  Chau  man  to  reading  to  a Fuh  Chau 
man  who  does  not  know  how  to  read,  and  the  poor  illit- 
erate is  as  ignorant  as  he  was  before,  because  ideas  ex- 
pressed by  the  sounds  of  the  written  characters  are  not 
represented  by  the  same  sounds  as  in  the  common  con- 
versation.” 

We  thus  have  not  only  a different  dialect  for  every 
province,  and  almost  every  county  in  the  empire,  but,  in 
addition,  a different  sound  for  the  same  idea  when  we 
read  it  than  when  we  speak  it  in  conversation.  In  this 


COLLINS . 


213 


should  be  excepted  the  mandarin,  or  court  dialect,  which 
is  essentially  the  same  all  over  the  empire,  but  is  no  more 
understood  by  the  common  people  there  than  Latin  is  by 
the  common  people  here. 

Again,  there  is  a kind  of  graduated  language  in  speak- 
ing, so  that  the  learned  in  conversation  are  no  better  un- 
derstood by  the  laboring  classes  than  some  of  oar  pulpit 
orators  are  by  the  common  hearers  in  this  country. 

In  February,  1849,  our  brother  was  brought  to  the 
door  of  death  by  the  typhus  fever.  He  says,  in  prospect 
of  gliding  from  life  into  eternity,  I felt  peace  in  com- 
mending my  soul  to  God,  and  had  no  fear  nor  dread  to 
die.  He  recovered  so  far  as  to  be  able  soon  to  embark  in 
a lorcha  to  Ningpo  and  Shanghae.  He  returned  in  June 
to  his  field  of  labor,  much  improved  in  health,  and  re- 
freshed in  heart  by  intercourse  with  his  brethren  in  mis- 
sionary service  at  other  stations. 

On  the  departure  of  Brother  Hickok,  the  mission  was 
left  without  an  authorized  superintendent,  till  May  2, 1850, 
when  Mr.  Collins  received  the  appointment,  by  a letter 
from  Bishop  Morris,  which,  he  states,  greatly  surprised 
and  embarrassed  him ; still,  with  fervent  prayer  for  the 
divine  guidance  and  blessing,  he  submitted  to  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  the  office. 

But  it  was  not  long  before  failing  health  compelled 
him  to  leave  his  chosen  work.  From  the  beginning  of 
his  residence  in  China,  there  was  in  his  case  a tendency 
to  a bilious  derangement,  which  resulted  in  a chronic 
diarrhoea.  His  medical  counsel  urged  him  to  leave  the 
country  as  the  only  means  of  saving  his  life ; conse- 
quently he  bid  farewell  to  his  colleagues  and  the  infant 


214 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


mission  at  Full  Claau  in  April,  1851,  and  soon  after  em- 
barked at  Hong  Kong,  and  crossing  the  Pacific  landed 
in  California  July  14th.  Here  he  found  several  thou- 
sand Chinese  surrounded  with  all  the  implements  of  pa- 
gan worship — even  within  the  limits  of  these  United 
States — and  who  claim  the  sympathy  and  evangelizing 
influences  of  Christianity  ; but  their  numbers  and  charac- 
ter and  circumstances  offer  but  slight  claims  upon  our 
labors  compared  with  the  untold  pagan  millions  in  their 
native  land. 

He  reached  his  home  in  Michigan  in  September,  so 
wasted  and  wan  that  even  his  parents  could  scarcely  rec- 
ognize him,  but  his  spirit  was  unbroken  and  his  heart 
as  true  and  strong  for  missionary  work  as  in  the  vigor 
of  health,  and  on  his  first  entrance  into  China.  He  lin- 
gered till  May,  1852,  when,  with  the  words  of  Christian 
triumph  on  his  lips,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in  the  thirtieth 
year  of  his  age. 

In  stature  he  was  slightly  above  the  medium  height, 
and  of  a spare  rather  than  a full  habit.  He  had  light  hair, 
blue  eyes,  and  a ruddy  countenance.  He  was  industri- 
ous, temperate  and  active.  His  mind  was  clear,  philo- 
sophical, and,  considering  his  age,  well  stored  with  a 
knowledge  of  men  and  things.  Socially,  he  was  genial, 
free  and  guileless  as  a child.  As  a Christian  he  was  con- 
fiding, consistent  and  constant.  As  a minister  he  was 
zealous,  humble  and  loyal  to  the  church  of  his  choice. 
He  made  no  pretensions  to  oratory,  yet  he  was  earnest, 
instructive  and  successful  as  a minister  of  the  gospel, 
glorying  only  in  the  cross  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  proved 
himself  a workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed.  His 


COLDER. 


215 


meekness  and  practical  common  sense  made  liim  an 
agreeable  colleague,  and  a valued  member  of  the  mis- 
sion. His  remains  rest  in  tbe  family  cemetery,  in  the 
town  of  Lyndon,  Washtenaw  county,  Michigan. 

His  motto  was,  “Christ  shall  be  magnified  by  my 
body,  whether  by  fife  or  by  death and  making  the 
mission  of  Full  Chau  the  mausoleum  of  those  sainted 
sleepers  who  have  toiled  and  died  for  its  erection,  fu- 
ture generations  will  read,  in  some  prominent  place  on 
the  sacred  pillar,  the  name  of  Judson  Dwight  Collins. 


COLDEE. 

Mrs.  Ellen  C.  Colder,  the  daughter  of  Eev.  John 
and  Charlotte  Ke utter  Winebrenner,  was  born  in  Harris- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  July  16th,  1824.  Her  father,  at  first 
a minister  of  the  German  Eeformed  Church,  but  subse- 
quently an  evangelist  and  founder  of  the  denomination 
called  the  “ Church  of  God,”  popularly  known  as  the 
“ Winebrennerian  church,”  is  still  a resident  of  the 
above  named  place.  Her  mother,  whom  the  daughter 
greatly  resembled  in  person  and  disposition,  was  a Chris- 
tian lady  of  rare  mental  and  moral  qualities,  cheerfully 
enduring  the  trials  through  which  she  was  called  to  pass, 
and  endearing  herself  to  all  within  the  circle  of  her  ac- 
quaintance. The  watch-care  and  holy  example  of  this 
dear  parent  Ellen  lost  in  childhood.  Before  her  death, 
however,  she  imparted  much  wholesome  instruction  to 
her  child,  and  solemnly  dedicated  her  to  God’s  service 
in  the  missionary  cause,  an  act  of  consecration  which  it 
appears  the  Lord  graciously  accepted. 


216 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Although  religiously  inclined  through  all  her  youth, 
the  subject  of  this  notice  did  not  openly  and  fully  give 
her  heart  to  God  until  January,  1843,  at  which  time  God 
mercifully  smiled  upon  her,  and  gave  her  peace  in  be- 
lieving. In  the  same  month  she  was  baptized  in  the  Sus- 
quehanna river,  and  received  as  a member  of  the  church 
of  God  in  Harrisburg. 

She  once  told  the  writer  that  during  her  struggle  for 
deliverance  from  sin,  her  last  and  greatest  hindrance 
arose  from  her  unwillingness  to  give  an  affirmative  an- 
swer to  this  question,  mentally  presented  to  her:  “ Will 
you,  in  the  event  of  your  conversion,  be  willing  to  do 
every  thing  which  God  may  require  of  you,  even  to  be 
a missionary  in  heathen  lands?”  Hot  until  she  was  able 
to  say,  “Yea,  Lord,  even  there  will  I gladly  follow  thee,” 
did  hope  arise  to  her  troubled  mind  ; but  when  the  sacri- 
fice was  made,  staightway  all  was  peace  within. 

Subsequently  to  her  conversion  she  became  a pupil  in 
the  Cedar  Hill  Female  Seminary,  under  the  principalship 
of  Eev.  H.  Dodge.  A.M.,  located  near  Mount  Joy,  Penn- 
sylvania. During  a residence  in  the  seminary  of  nearly 
six  years,  the  last  four  as  a teacher,  she  occupied  in  every 
relation  a high  position;  “and,”  says  Mr.  Dodge,  “the 
mention  of  her  name  in  the  Cedar  Hill  family  still  calls 
up  tokens  of  her  goodness  of  heart  and  hand  in  ever  re- 
freshing forms,  though  ten  years  have  passed  away  since 
her  sojourn  with  us.”  Concerning  her  the  same  pen 
writes, 

“ Cheerful  in  temper,  and  gifted  in  conversational 
power,  yet  chastened  to  its  most  unobtrusive  form,  she 
was  the  special  charm  of  the  domestic  and  social  circle 


COLDEfi. 


217 


in  which  she  moved.  Unaffected  candor  and  unwearied 
kindness,  a tender  interest  in  those  around  her,  and  a 
hand  ever  ready  to  render  prompt  assistance,  may  afford 
some  idea  of  what  Miss  Winebrenner  was  while  at 
Cedar  Hill.” 

Always  active  in  her  Master’s  service,  and  willing  to 
toil  anywhere  for  his  glory,  it  was  not  until  the  year 
1850  that  she  felt  called  to  labor  in  any  other  than  her 
native  land.  It  was  then  that  her  mind  was  first  direct- 
ed to  China,  as  a field  for  her  future  labors.  Writing 
concerning  this  portion  of  her  history,  Rev.  I.  W.  Wiley, 
M.  D.,  afterward  her  fellow  traveler  on  the  outward  voy- 
age, and  associate  at  Fuh  Chau,  says,  “The  call  to  this 
work  came  through  Rev.  James  Colder,  a graduate  of 
the  Wesleyan  University  at  Middletown,  Connecticut, 
whose  name  had  been  presented  to  the  Missionary  Board 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  by  the  great  and 
good  Olin,  who  was  then  president  of  the  University. 
Mr.  Colder  was  chosen  as  a missionary  for  China,  and 
was  called  from  the  itinerant  work  into  which  he  had 
entered,  to  prepare  for  this  new  field  of  labor.  Mr. 
Colder  was  also  a native  of  Harrisburg,  the  birth-place 
of  Miss  Winebrenner.  They  had  known  each  other 
through  childhood  and  youth,  and  now  that  he  had 
entered  into  manhood,  and  was  about  stepping  forth 
to  take  his  place  in  the  active  duties  of  the  world,  with 
this  new  and  trying  vocation  indicating  to  him  what 
those  duties  were  to  be,  his  choice  of  a companion  and 
associate  in  these  labors  fell  upon  Miss  Winebrenner, 
with  whose  maturity  of  character  and  available  qualifi- 
cations he  was  well  acquainted.  They  were  separated 

10 


218 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


by  church  relations,  but  were  one  in  tbe  spirit  and  ex- 
perience of  religion.” 

They  were  married  on  Christmas  day,  1850 ; and  in 
company  with  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley,  and  Miss  Seely, 
(afterwards  married  to  Key.  M.  C.  White,)  set  sail  from 
New  York  on  the  13th  of  March  following.  On  the 
17th  of  June  they  landed  at  Hong  Kong,  and  during  a 
stay  there  of  about  two  weeks,  waiting  for  a vessel  to 
take  them  up  the  coast,  they  were  the  guests  of  the 
compiler  of  this  volume.  They  reached  Fuh  Chau,  the 
seat  of  their  mission,  on  the  9th  of  July,  1851,  and  at 
once  entered  with  cheerfulness  upon  the  performance  of 
the  labor  which  had  called  them  from  their  home  in 
America. 

Mrs.  C.  and  her  companion  continued  in  Fuh  Chau, 
until  May,  1853,  when  the  rumors  of  approaching  revo- 
lution in  the  empire  daily  becoming  more  alarming,  it 
was  judged  expedient  that  the  families  of  Mr.  Maclay 
and  Mr.  Colder,  should  remove  to  Hong  Kong,  until  the 
restoration  of  peace  should  render  their  return  to  Fuh 
Chau  advisable.  On  reaching  Hong  Kong,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Colder  became  the  guests  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson,  of 
the  Baptist  Missionary  Union.  During  their  sojourn  at 
Hong  Kong,  Mr.  Colder  found  opportunity  to  examine, 
in  the  light  of  God’s  Word,  several  points  in  church 
polity  and  practice,  and  the  result  was,  that  he  felt 
compelled  to  abandon  the  views  and  practices  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  concerning  baptism  and 
some  points  of  church  government,  and  embrace  senti- 
ments more  nearly  agreeing  with  those  held  by  Baptist 
churches. 


COLDER. 


219 


Writing  at  the  'time  to  some  ministerial  friends  in 
America,  concerning  his  change,  he  said,  “ It  is  but  prop- 
er that  I should  say  distinctly,  that  this  change  of  my 
opinions  is  not  the  result  of  controversy  with  men,  or 
the  perusal  of  books  on  the  side  opposed  to  the  views  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  It  is  the  result  of  a 
prayerful  study  of  God’s  Word,  and  was  conducted  and 
concluded  without  the  participation  or  knowledge  of 
any  one.  Even.  Mrs.  Colder  was  unacquainted  with  the 
examination  I was  conducting,  and  knew  nothing  what- 
ever of  the  change  of  my  views,  until  within  the  last 
two  weeks.  I may  remark  further  upon  this  point,  that 
Mrs.  Colder  and  myself  have  not  exchanged  a word  on 
the  subject  of  baptism  for  two  full  years.” 

Having  determined  to  dissolve  his  connection  with  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Mr.  Colder  formally  with- 
drew on  the  5th  of  November,  1853  ; and  on  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath,  was  baptized  in  Hong  Kong  harbor  by 
Mr.  Johnson.  The  interest  of  the  occasion  to  Mrs.  Col- 
der was  greatly  increased  by  the  baptism  by  her  husband 
of  a young  Chinaman,  Ting  Ing  Kaw,  a native  of  Fuh 
Chau,  who  had  served  in  Mr.  Colder’s  family  in  that 
city,  and  had  accompanied  them  to  Hong  Kong.  This 
youth  had  for  some  time  evinced  a desire  to  become  a 
Christian,  and  having  passed  a satisfactory  examination, 
was  unanimously  received  by  the  Baptist  church  as  a 
candidate  for  baptism  and  membership.  Kaw  was  the 
first  Christian  convert  of  all  the  multitudes  of  his  native 
city. 

After  the  dissolution  of  their  connection  with  the  Meth- 
odist mission,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colder  felt  it  their  duty  to 


220 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


yield  to  the  earnest  solicitations  of  relatives,  and  return, 
at  least  for  a time,  to  America.  Accordingly,  having 
with  them  two  sons,  one  born  at  Fuh  Chau,  and  the 
other  at  Hong  Kong,  and  the  young  Chinese  convert 
Kaw,  they  set  sail  from  Whampoa  on  the  6th  of  January, 
1854,  and  after  a very  pleasant  voyage,  reached  New 
York  on  the  7th  of  April.  After  their  return,  they  lo- 
cated in  Harrisburg,  where  they  became  connected  with 
the  “ Church  of  God and  in  the  following  }mar  Mr. 
Colder  was  elected  pastor  of  the  society  of  that  name  in 
that  place. 

In  the  year  1856,  Kaw  returned  to  his  kindred  in 
China,  where  he  continues  a faithful  Christian,  laboring, 
as  he  has  opportunity,  to  extend  a knowledge  of  the 
gospel  among  bis  countrymen.  A few  weeks  before  his 
departure  from  America,  Mrs.  C.  was  permitted  to  wel- 
come to  Harrisburg  a Chinese  woman,  Cheung  Chio,  who 
had  served  as  a nurse  in  her  family  in  Fuh  Chau,  and 
who,  in  the  jxreceding  autumn,  had  accompanied  Rev. 
S.  Cummings  and  lady  to  this  country.  Within  a year 
from  the  time  of  her  arrival  at  Harrisburg,  this  female 
gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  a change  of  heart ; and  on 
a profession  of  faith,  was  baptized  by  Mr.  Colder,  and  re- 
ceived into  the  fellowship  of  the  church  of  which  he  was 
pastor.  Thus,  though  removed  from  their  chosen  field 
of  labor  in  China,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Colder  were  permitted 
to  be  instruments,  in  the  hands  of  God,  of  bringing  into 
Christ’s  fold  the  first  two  converts  from  the  city  to  which 
they  had  been  appointed. 

At  the  urgent  request  of  a number  of  persons  interested 
in  education,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.,  after  repeated  refusals,  re- 


COULTER. 


221 


moved  from  Harrisburg  to  Shippensburg,  Pa.,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1857,  to  take  charge  of  the  Shippensburg  Collegiate 
Institute,  Mr.  C.  at  the  same  time  serving  as  pastor  of 
the  “ Church  of  God”  in  that  town.  Here  they  labored 
through  the  winter  of  1857-8,  and  were  cheered  by  good 
success  in  the  school,  and  a gracious  revival  in  the 
church. 

But  in  the  midst  of  prosperity,  and  with  strong  hopes 
of  increasing  usefulness,  their  cherished  plans  were  broken 
up,  and  their  years  of  uninterrupted  conjugal  happiness 
brought  to  a close.  After  an  illness  of  a few  days’  con- 
tinuance, Mrs.  Colder  died  at  Shippensburg,  March  24, 
1858.  On  the  following  day,  her  remains,  attended  by  a 
large  company  of  friends,  were  taken  to  Harrisburg,  in 
the  beautiful  cemetery  adjoining  which  place  they  were 
subsequently  interred.  There,  marked  by  a stone  which 
says  that  she  who  sleeps  beneath  was, 

“in  all  things  lovely,” 

they  await  the  advent  of  him  at  whose  appearing  there 
will  be  found  to  hymn  his  praise,  not  only  the  redeemed 
from  favored  America,  but  also  “those  who  shall  come 
from  far,  and  lo,  these  from  the  north  and  the  west,  and 
these  from  the  land  of  Sinim 


COULTER. 

Moses  S.  Coulter  was  born  in  Brooke  county,  Vir- 
ginia, May  30th,  1824.  From  that  place  he  afterwards 
removed  with  his  parents  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  where, 
at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  he  became  a member  of  the 


222 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Presbyterian  church.  He  graduated  from  Hanover  Col- 
lege, Indiana,  July,  1848.  Mr.  Coulter  about  this  time 
was  invited  by  the  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Mis- 
sions to  take  charge  of  a printing  establishment  at 
Ningpo,  China,  which,  upon  due  deliberation  and  coun- 
sel, he  accepted. 

On  the  1st  of  January,  1849,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Caroline  E.  Crowe,  the  daughter  of 
President  Crowe,  and  sailed  for  China  in  the  ship  Samuel 
Russell,  on  the  24th  of  February  following.  After  spend- 
ing a few  weeks  at  Hong  Kong  and  Canton,  they  pro- 
ceeded northward,  arriving  at  theix  station  at  Ningpo  on 
the  24th  of  August.  In  addition  to  the  superintendence 
of  the  press,  he  prosecuted  the  study  of  theology  and 
also  of  the  Chinese  language,  cherishing  the  expectation 
of  ultimately  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  Chinese.  He 
took  with  him  to  China  a manly  form  and  a vigorous 
frame,  which  promised  long  and  successful  service,  but 
he  had  scarcely  entered  upon  his  duties  before  he  was  at- 
tacked with  fever  and  a chronic  diarrhoea,  which  after- 
wards assumed  a dysenteric  form.  These  attacks,  though 
abating  in  the  cool  season,  were  repeated  at  the  return 
of  summer,  till  October,  1852,  when  he  sought  relief  by 
a change  to  Shanghae.  Here  he  was  recommended  to 
return  to  his  native  land,  but  God  was  preparing  him  for 
a better  country,  even  an  heavenly.  After  returning  to 
Ningpo,  preparatory  to  his  embarkation  for  the  United 
States,  he  suffered  a renewed  attack,  and  on  the  12th  of 
December,  1852,  when  an  eclipse  of  the  sun,  nearly  total, 
had  darkened  the  heavens,  and  filled  the  heathen  with 
dread  and  dismay,  the  spirit  of  our  brother  passed  away 


CUMMINGS. 


223 


to  that  city  which  needs  no  candle,  neither  the  light  of 
the  sun,  but  of  which  the  Lord  Glod  is  the  light. 

Mrs.  Coulter  and  her  little  children,  with  a weeping 
mission,  and  the  dying  heathen,  were  left  to  feel  his  loss. 

He  was  a man  of  prudence  and  wisdom,  and  one  who 
feared  the  Lord,  aud  walked  in  his  ways. 

Ningpo  is  one  of  the  consular  cities  of  China,  situated 
in  80°  north  latitude,  and  122°  east  longitude,  haying  a 
population  of  perhaps  two  or  three  hundred  thousand. 
The  first  agents  of  the  Presbyterian  Board,  located  at 
Ningpo,  were  Dr.  McCartee,  Mr.  Cole,  a printer,  Rev. 
Messrs.  Way,  Loomis,  and  Culbertson,  with  their  fami- 
lies, who  reached  China  184L  They  were  afterwards 
joined  by  the  lamented  Lowrie,  Quarterman,  Rankin, 
Wight,  the  Martins,  Nevius,  etc. 

They  have  there  a printing  press,  with  metallic  types, 
a medical  dispensary,  chapels,  a church,  and  flourishing 
schools ; and  the  gospel  is  there  preached  to  regular  con- 
gregations, and  to  the  heathen  in  their  temples,  and  in 
the  market-places,  and  by  the  wayside. 


CUMMINGS. 

Rev.  Seneca  Cummings,  a missionary  of  the  Amer- 
ican Board  of  Commissioners,  at  Fuh  Chau,  China,  was 
born  at  Antrim,  New  Hampshire,  May  16,  1817. 

He  spent  the  first  twenty  years  of  his  life  in  the  home 
of  his  father,  Samuel  Cummings,  enjoying  the  culture 
of  Christian  parents,  and  the  hallowed  influence  of  fond 
brothers  and  sisters — in  a household  where  the  fear  of 


224 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


God  and  love  to  eacli  other  were  the  ruling  principles 
of  life.  The  pious  mother  died  in  1845 ; but  the  ven- 
erable father  survived  this  the  youngest  child  of  his  fam- 
ily. Seneca  was  naturally  mild  and  contemplative,  and 
in  youth  discovered  all  those  qualities  which  constitute 
a dutiful  son  and  an  affectionate  brother.  His  parents 
thought  his  piety  commenced  in  childhood,  but  he  dated 
his  change  at  a later  period.  He  early  discovered  a fond- 
ness for  books,  and  by  the  progress  he  made  in  study  at 
the  common  school  in  his  native  place,  he  was  soon  em- 
ployed himself  in  teaching  in  winter,  while  he  labored 
on  his  father’s  farm  in  the  summer.  In  consequence  of 
a partial  paralysis  of  one  arm,  from  which  he  never 
fully  recovered,  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  he  was 
obliged  to  relinquish  a life  of  manual  labor,  and  with 
the  view  of  fitting  himself  more  fully  for  teaching,  en- 
tered the  Academy  at  Meriden  and  fitted  himself  for 
college.  During  his  first  term  there  he  gave  his  heart  to 
God,  and  became  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church 
in  his  native  town.  In  1840,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
he  entered  Dartmouth  College.  Here  he  was  highly  es- 
teemed, and  maintained  throughout  his  college  course  a 
high  standing  as  a student  and  as  a Christian.  One  of 
his  fellow-students  thus  speaks  of  him : “ He  was  my 
most  intimate  and  valued  college  friend,  whose  fellow- 
ship constituted  the  most  precious  chapter  in  the  history 
of  that  period  of  my  life.  His  deep  sincerity,  his  ster- 
ling honesty  of  character,  his  modesty,  which  concealed 
his  real  worth  from  all  but  his  intimate  friends,  his  sym- 
pathy with  all  goodness,  his  energy  and  practical  wis- 
dom, all  tended  to  inscribe  his  name  first  in  the  list  of 


CUMMINGS. 


225 


mj  cherished  associates.”  In  1844  he  graduated  as  one 
of  the  first  three  in  his  class. 

After  his  graduation  he  spent  a year  as  principal  of 
the  Keene  Academy.  During  that  year  he  lost  his 
mother,  and  Glod  made  use  of  that  affliction  to  lead  him 
to  a deeper  religious  experience  and  higher  resolves  of 
duty  to  Christ  and  a dying  world. 

In  writing  to  his  home  friends  after  this  bereavement 
he  says,  “ I have  been  thinking  that  her  death  has  not 
come  on  her  own  account  and  eternal  interests  alone, 
but  that  it  was  designed  for  some  good  to  us  all.  And 
it  seems  to  me  that  we  shall  do  ourselves,  our  souls 
and  our  Redeemer,  great  wrong  if  we  do  not  study  to 
find  out  what  is  intended  to  be  taught  by  this  affliction, 
and  lay  it  to  heart.” 

Having  resolved  to  devote  his  life  to  the  Christian 
ministry,  he  went  in  the  autumn  of  1845  to  Lane  Sem- 
inary. 

The  following  extract  from  a letter  to  his  father  intro- 
duces us  to  the  spirit  with  which  he  entered  upon  the 
sacred  work : “ When  I began  this  letter  I was  on 

board  the  steamboat ; now  I am  safely  at  the  seminary 
— the  place  of  my  destination  for  two  years,  probably, 
and  years  of  solemn  responsibility  they  will  be,  no 
doubt. 

“ Only  think — I am  here  to  prepare  for  the  ministry,  to 
become  a soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  go  forth  in  his  name 
and  to  preach  his  gospel.  When  I think  how  unqualified 
I am,  and  how  much  must  be  accomplished  in  the  culti- 
vation of  my  mind  and  heart  before  I shall  be  fitted  for 
the  work  of  the  ministry,  my  spirit  almost  faints  within 

10* 


226 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


me.  Yet  my  trust  is  not  in  an  arm  of  flesh.  The  Sav- 
iour of  lost  men  is  able  to  qualify  me  for  the  work  he 
has  for  me  to  do,  and  in  him  is  my  only  hope  of  suc- 
cess.” 

The  pious  spirit  which  he  carried  to  the  seminary  went 
on  deepening,  and  expanding,  and  increasing  in  power 
during  his  whole  course  of  study.  While  at  the  semi- 
nary he  thought  much  of  going  to  the  heathen.  He  al- 
ludes to  this  in  the  following  language  to  his  father : “ In 
deciding  to  become  a minister  of  the  gospel,  I of  course 
expected  to  labor  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Saviour  where- 
ever  he  should  appoint.  I am  his  servant,  and  have  no 
right  to  dictate  to  him  about  the  place  where  he  shall 
make  use  of  me  as  such.  But  wherever  he  shall  make 
the  path  of  duty  plain  before  me,  there  it  shall  be  my 
pleasure  to  walk,  rejoicing  that  I am  counted  worthy  to 
enter  his  service  at  all.  From  the  impressions  which 
have  borne  heavily  on  my  mind  with  reference  to  the 
foreign  missionary  field,  I feel  that  the  time  has  come 
when  I should  decide  this  question.  And  do  you  ask 
what  is  my  present  position  in  relation  to  becoming  a 
foreign  missionary  ? My  answer  is  decidedly  in  favor  of 
entering  that  field  of  labor.  I have  examined  the  sub- 
ject carefully  and  prayerfully  and  am  fully  persuaded  in 
my  own  mind  that  it  is  my  duty,  when  my  studies  shall 
be  completed,  to  go  and  preach  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 
Of  course  if  you  should  convince  me  that  it  is  not  my 
duty  to  go,  I should  readily  retreat  from  the  position  in 
which  I now  stand ; and  above  all,  if  Christ  by  his  Spirit, 
or  by  the  events  of  his  providence,  should  show  me  that 
it  is  my  duty  to  remain  in  my  native  land,  I shall  most 


. CUMMINGS. 


227 


cheerfully  do  so.  But  as  I now  look  at  the  subject,  it 
seems  to  be  my  duty  to  go  on  a mission.  But  before 
fully  deciding  the  question,  I wish  to  know  the  feelings 
and  opinions  of  the  various  members  of  the  family  re- 
specting it.  Do  not  let  this  subject  cause  you  undue 
anxiety,  neither  regard  me  as  destitute  of  natural  affec- 
tion for  the  family,  nor  as  insensible  to  the  endearments 
of  home  and  my  native  land.  In  all  these  respects  strong 
cords  must  be  sundered,  should  I go  as  a herald  of  the 
cross  to  the  benighted  heathen.  I know  also  it  will  cost 
you  a struggle  to  give  me  up,  and  my  own  heart  will 
have  to  struggle  to  bid  you  and  my  friends  adieu.  I 
know  too  what  intense  feelings  would  swell  mother’s 
bosom  if  she  were  here  to  be  among  the  group  at  the 
parting  scene.  But  I think  that  mother,  as  she  looks 
down  from  the  mansions  of  bliss,  where  she  resides,  after 
having  experienced  the  fullness  of  joy  there  is  to  be 
found  in  the  immediate  presence  of  Christ,  will  rejoice 
with  joy  unspeakable,  and  if  her  voice  could  be  made 
audible  to  human  ears,  and  her  testimony  would  add  at 
all  to  the  authority  of  Christ’s  last  command,  she  would 
say,  in  tones  not  to  be  mistaken — ‘ Go  ye  into  all  the 
world  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature.’” 

Mr.  Cummings  spent  one  year  at  Lane  Seminary,  and 
in  1846  was  accepted  as  a candidate  for  missionary  ser- 
vice by  the  American  Board  of  Commissioners,  and 
designated  to  labor  at  Full  Chau,  China.  He  spent  his 
second  year  in  theology  at  the  Union  Theological  Sem- 
inary. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
A.  M.  Stearns,  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Hartwell,  a missionary’s 


228 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


wife  in  China,  and  on  the  11th  of  November  embarked 
at  Philadelphia  in  the  ship  Valparaiso,  in  company  with 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  James,  Miss  Pohlman,  Eev.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baldwin  and  Rev.  Mr.  Richards.  Of  this  number,  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  James,  within  a few  days  after  landing  in  Chi- 
na, were  drowned  while  passing  from  Canton  to  Hong 
Kong.  Miss  Pohlman  was  in  China  but  a few  months 
when  her  brother  was  lost  on  his  passage  from  Hong 
Kong  to  Amoy.  Mr.  Richards  lost  his  health  at  Fuk 
Chau,  and,  embarking  for  the  United  States,  found  a 
grave  in  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic.  Of  Mr.  Cummings 
it  may  be  written  that  after  spending  a few  days  at  Hong 
Kong,  he  proceeded  on  his  way  to  Full  Chau,  which  is 
five  hundred  miles  from  Hong  Kong,  and  thirty  miles 
from  the  mouth  of  the  Min  river,  where,  on  the  7th  of 
May,  1848,  they  were  warmly  welcomed  by  Rev.  Messrs. 
Johnson  and  Peet  of  their  own  society,  and  Rev.  Messrs. 
"White  and  Collins  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  Cummings  thus  expresses  his  first  impressions  of 
his  new  home : “ To-day  I had,  for  the  first  time,  a full 

view  of  the  city,  in  whose  suburbs  is  now  my  dwelling 
place.  And  such  a dense  mass  of  buildings  and  tene- 
ments I never  before  witnessed.  In  the  valley  which 
they  occupy  nothing  else  appears  for  two  or  three  miles 
in  every  direction.  So  closely  are  the  buildings  com- 
pacted, and  so  nearly  of  the  same  form  and  height,  that 
all  seems  as  unbroken  and  monotonous  as  the  sea.  And 
to  us  foreigners,  who  have  seen  the  endless  bustle,  and 
heard  the  low,  rolling  thunder  of  cities  in  our  far  distant 
native  land,  while  viewing  this  sea  of  roofs  from  the 
heights  we  occupied,  the  whole  appeared  as  lifeless  as  a 


CUMMINGS. 


229 


desert.  Not  an  animal,  doing  service  to  man,  was  seen, 
not  the  sound  of  a carriage  was  heard ; yet,  beneath  the 
surface  of  this  scene,  which  our  eyes  rested  upon,  there 
live  hundreds  of  thousands  of  immortal  souls,  without 
God  and  without  hope  in  the  world.  If  an  ancient  chief- 
tain, as  he  looked  down  from  a lofty  eminence  upon  the 
surrounding  population,  could  weep  over  their  destiny, 
is  there  not  cause  for  deep  emotion  in  the  Christian’s 
breast  when  beholding  such  a scene  ?” 

Again  he  writes : “ After  breakfast,  brethren  John- 
son and  Baldwin,  and  myself,  started  from  the  monastery 
— a Budhist  temple  some  six  miles  south-east  of  Fuh 
Chau — for  the  summit  of  Kusang.  Its  isolated,  towering 
peak  presented  rather  a forbidding  appearance  as  we 
began  to  wind  our  way  in  circuitous  paths  up  its  steep 
sides.  We  frequently  stopped  to  take  rest,  aud  reached 
the  top  only  at  eleven  o’clock.  Here  we  at  first  sat 
down,  throwing  our  shawls  over  our  shoulders  to  recover 
from  our  fatigue.  The  breeze  and  pure  air  of  the  lofty 
height  were  most  refreshing  and  invigorating. 

“We  soon  rose,  and  began  to  survey  the  enchanting 
scene  which  lay  stretched  out  before  us.  Toward  the 
north  scarcely  any  thing  could  be  seen  but  mountain 
peaks,  in  almost  endless  numbers  and  varieties  of  forms, 
and  presenting  the  most  rugged  appearance  to  the  face  of 
the  country  of  any  thing  I had  ever  seen.  On  the  east, 
a small  portion  of  the  ocean  could  be  seen  in  the  blue 
horizon,  with  islands  interspersed  here  and  there  ; while 
on  the  south  and  west,  our  position  commanded  a full 
view  of  the  valley,  or  vast  basin,  in  which  the  city  of 
Fuh  Chau  and  its  suburbs  are  situated.  Through  this 


230 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


valley  flows  the  river  Min,  which,  at  its  northern  ex- 
tremity, divides  into  two  streams.  These  sweep  through 
the  valley  at  a considerable  distance  from  each  other, 
from  both  of  which  a great  number  of  creeks  run  out 
into  the  neighboring  paddy  fields,  cutting  them  into 
geometrical  figures  of  almost  every  form,  presenting  to 
the  eye  a delightfully  picturesque  prospect.  In  this 
valley  stands  the  vast  and.  densely  populated  city  of  Full 
Chau,  with  its  dusky  roofs,  so  closely  united  as  to  pre- 
sent the  appearance  of  a shadow  of  a summer  cloud 
resting  on  a vast  field  of  grain.  From  the  city,  in  every 
direction,  are  villages  to  the  number  of  a hundred  at 
least,  containing  their  hundreds  of  thousands  of  souls. 

“ What  a field  for  labor  lies  before  us  ! How  such  a 
scene  enlarges  our  views  of  the  magnitude  of  the  work 
to  be  accomplished  in  this  part  of  the  Lord’s  vineyard, 
and  how  it  humbles  our  views  of  man’s  ability  to  accom- 
plish it.  None  but  God  can  perform  it.  0 that  we  may 
descend  from  this  mountain  filled  with  the  might  of  his 
Spirit,  and  carry  on  this  work  for  which  his  power  alone 
is  adequate !” 

Soon  Mr.  Cummings  was  settled  in  his  humble  home, 
on  an  elevated  spot,  amid  a dense  suburban  population, 
it  being  then  impracticable,  and  perhaps  undesirable  to 
locate  within  the  city  walls,  and  gave  himself,  with  his 
characteristic  energy,  to  the  great  work  before  him.  His 
first  object  was  to  gain  a knowledge  of  the  language. 
What  a labor  I No  teacher  who  could  speak  a word  of 
English,  no  special  helps  in  the  dialect  of  that  place,  in 
the  shape  of  vocabularies,  etc.  And  yet  the  progress  of 
this  servant  of  God,  whose  heart  was  longing  to  reveal 


CUMMINGS. 


231 


the  words  of  life,  was  rapid  and  accurate,  and  soon  he 
was  able  to  pass  among  the  people,  addressing  to  them 
here  and  there  a word  in  their  own  language,  which 
seemed  to  soothe  their  prejudices  and  save  their  souls. 

In  the  autumn  of  1849  he  obtained  a small  chapel  on 
the  main  street  leading  through  his  district,  where  he 
daily  spoke  to  the  people  of  Jesus  and  the  resurrection, 
and  distributed  tracts  and  portions  of  the  Scriptures. 
For  five  years  Mr.  Cummings  here  continued  almost  daily 
to  hold  forth  the  word  of  life  to  crowded  and  listening 
audiences,  made  up  of  burden-bearers,  shaven  priests, 
idol-makers  and  idol-venders,  market-men,  water-car- 
riers, merchants,  mechanics,  and  a motley  group  of  all 
classes.  The  word  of  God,  thus  faithfully  spoken,  and 
watered  by  the  tears  of  this  man  of  God,  will  not  return 
to  him  void. 

In  October,  1850,  the  Lord  cheered  their  dwelling  with 
the  gift  of  an  infant  daughter,  but  soon  recalled  it  to 
himself  again,  leaving  their  house  desolate  and  their 
hearts  bleeding ; but  in  the  language  of  sweet  submis- 
sion, he  exclaims,  “ Yes,  blessed  Jesus,  she  has  gone  to 
thee,  and  we  would  not,  by  our  complaints,  bring  her  back 
from  thine  arms.  But,  oh  1 grant  that  the  treasure  we 
have  now  laid  up  with  thee  in  heaven,  may  often  draw 
our  hearts  thither  while  we  remain  in  this  vale  of  tears.” 

The  health  of  himself  and  his  wife  continued  to  fail 
till  the  spring  of  1855,  when  they  made  a voyage  to 
Shanghae,  but  finding  no  benefit  from  that,  they  soon 
returned  to  Fuh  Chau,  and  thence  embarked  for  the 
United  States,  where  they  landed,  Ocotber  10th,  1855. 
They  were  welcomed  to  the  home  at  New  Ipswich, 


232 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


whence,  seven  years  before,  Mrs.  Cummings  went  forth 
a youthful  bride,  to  seek  her  home  among  the  heathen. 

During  the  winter  his  health  improved,  while  he  per- 
formed much  ministerial  labor,  and  in  August  visited 
Andover  to  attend  the  anniversaries  of  the  Seminary, 
and  went  to  Boston  to  arrange  for  his  return  to  China, 
full  of  hope  and  joy  at  the  prospect  of  soon  resuming  his 
work  at  Fuh  Chau. 

Dr.  Anderson,  in  his  funeral  sermon,  says,  “ Just  one 
week  ago  this  day  he  was  with  us  in  Boston,  full  of  hope 
and  promise,  looking  forward  to  a speedy  return  to 
China  ; to-day  he  sleeps  in  death  before  us — his  work  all 
done,  and  his  spirit  gone  to  its  reward.” 

During  his  brief  but  malignant  disease  he  fancied  him- 
self again  among  the  Chinese,  and  again  addressed  them 
in  their  native  language,  and  proclaimed  to  them  the 
gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  This  done,  he  spoke  no  more 
on  earth,  and  the  next  morning  went  to  his  everlasting 
rest.  He  died  August  12th,  1856,  at  New  Ipswich, 
N.  H.,  aged  thirty-nine  years. 

He  had  spent  seven  years  of  successful  labor  among 
the  Chinese  of  Fuh  Chau,  and  after  a visit  of  a few 
months  in  his  native  land,  was  preparing  to  resume  his 
work,  and  just  about  to  bid  a last  adieu  to  home  and 
kindred,  for  the  rest  of  life  among  the  heathen,  when  the 
Master  called,  saying,  “ Friend,  come  up  higher.” 

In  stature  he  was,  perhaps,  a little  above  the  medium 
height,  of  a sedate  and  thoughtful  countenance.  He 
possessed  great  meekness,  uniformity  of  temper,  gentle- 
ness of  manner,  symmetry  of  character,  soundness  of 
judgment,  strength  of  faith,  fervency  of  spirit.  He  was 


DEAN. 


233 


eminently  a good  man,  and  full  of  faith  and  the  Holy 
Ghost. 


DEAN. 

Mrs.  Matilda  Dean,  the  wife  of  Bev.  W.  Dean,  was 
the  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  Comau,  and  horn  at 
Morrisville,  Madison  county,  New  York,  March  9,  1812. 
She  presented  a pattern  of  early  piety,  and  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  years  was  baptized,  in  company  with  her  father 
and  several  sisters,  in  the  year  1825.  She  presented  a 
rare  combination  of  personal  attraction,  symmetry  of 
character  and  Christian  consistency.  She  improved  her 
advantages  for  mental  culture  with  a diligence  worthy 
of  her  high  aims  for  usefulness  of  life,  and  patiently  and 
cheerfully  pursued  her  course  whether  shadows  or  sun- 
shine attended  her  path. 

During  the  year  1833  she  was  a member  of  the  Bur- 
man  class  at  Hamilton,  under  the  teaching  of  Moung- 
Shway-Moung,  the  Burmese  disciple,  who  came  to  this 
country  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade.  Her  progress  indi- 
cated a facility  in  acquiring  the  languages  of  the  heathen 
which  promised  future  success  in  teaching  them  lessons 
of  saving  truths.  In  the  spring  of  1834  she  was  married 
to  Bev.  William  Dean,  and  in  July  following  sailed  with 
him  on  his  mission  to  the  Chinese.  Being  detained  for 
half  a year  at  Singapore,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dean  there  gave 
their  time  to  the  study  of  the  language,  preparatory  to 
the  duties  of  their  mission.  During  these  preparatory 
labors  Mrs.  Dean  was  called  to  leave  the  service  on  earth 


23  4 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


for  which,  she  appeared  so  eminently  fitted,  and  to  which 
she  had  so  gladly  consecrated  herself,  for  a higher  service 
above.  She  died  in  March,  1835,  and  her  grave  is  shaded 
by  a grove  of  spice  trees  on  the  island  of  Singapore. 

She  had  joyfully  left  parents  and  a numerous  family 
of  brothers  and  sisters,  and  a large  circle  of  kindred  and 
friends  whose  society  she  well  knew  how  to  enjoy,  and 
to  whose  happiness  she  had  largely  contributed,  and  had 
patiently  endured  the  tedious  and  tasteless  hours  of  a 
long  sea  voyage,  and  had  looked  upon  her  sable  sisters 
of  the  East  and  presented  to  them  her  smiling  salutation 
— and  then  lay  down  to  die  among  them  as  a pledge  of 
her  desire  for  their  elevation  and  eternal  fife. 

She  left  a helpless  infant  to  bear  her  name,  who  never 
knew  the  tenderness  of  her  mother’s  love,  and  may  never 
realize  the  extent  of  her  early  bereavement. 

During  the  last  winter,  after  addressing  a congregation 
in  the  city  of  Buffalo,  the  writer  received  from  an  un- 
known author,  the  following  lines: 

“ The  remarks  to  which  I was  permitted  to  listen  from 
our  Brother  Dean  this  morning,  so  forcibly  reminded  me 
of  one  of  the  most  affecting  scenes  I ever  witnessed,  I 
think  it  will  be  listened  to  with  interest. 

“ In  February,  1836,  I was  present  at  the  session  of  the 
New  York  State  Convention  held  with  the  church  in 
Morrisville,  Madison  county.  After  the  convention  was 
called  to  order,  the  venerable  John  Peck,  with  his  tall, 
erect  form,  his  silvery  locks,  with  tears  coursing  down 
his  cheeks,  in  a tremulous  voice  announced  in  the  most 
feeling  and  sympathising  language,  the  death  of  one  ol 
that  church’s  most  gifted  daughters,  in  the  person  of  Mrs. 


DEAN. 


285 


Matilda  C.  Dean,  a missionary  in  a foreign  land.  And 
then  turned  and  addressed  words  of  Christian  consolation 
to  her  venerable  parents,  and  her  numerous  Christian 
friends  and  late  associates,  and  more  especially  the  young. 
So  strongly  was  this  affecting  scene  impressed  upon  my 
mind,  although  nearly  twenty-three  years  ago,  it  seems 
but  yesterday.  Audible  sobs  came  up  from  all  parts  of 
that  large  assembly — while  tears  of  heart- felt  and  deep 
Christian  sympathy  freely  flowed  from  every  eye  pres- 
ent.” 

We  have  since  learned  that  the  author  of  the  above 
lines  has  pledged  himself  for  the  annual  support  of  a 
native  preacher  in  China  — Grod  bless  him  and  his 
preacher,  and  may  both  meet  in  heaven,  with  many  of 
the  Chinese  saved  through  their  instrumentality. 


DEAN. 

Mrs.  Theodosia  Ann  Dean,  the  daughter  of  Ed- 
mund H.  Barker,  and  wife  of  Rev.  W.  Dean,  was  born 
at  Thetford,  England,  March  29th,  1819.  There  also 
was  born  the  celebrated  Thomas  Paine,  the  apostle  of 
democracy  and  infidelity.  The  name  of  Thomas  Paine 
affords  a contrast  with  that  of  Mrs.  Dean,  not  unlike  that 
of  the  bramble  and  the  grape,  the  thistle  and  the  rose, 
drawing  their  life  from  the  same  soil.  The  one  devoted 
to  the  propagation  of  infidelity,  the  other  of  Christianity 
— the  one  labored  in  vain  to  explode  the  religion  of  the 
cross  in  Christian  lands,  the  other  toiled  successfully  in 
planting  the  cross  in  heathen  lands.  The  career  of  the  one 


236 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


was  long  and  malignant — the  course  of  the  other  was  short 
but  beneficent.  The  one  died  at  home  a victim  to  his  vices 
— the  other  fell  abroad  a martyr  to  her  virtues.  The  former 
sunk  in  despair,  cursing  the  God  whom  he  had  doubted 
and  denied — the  latter  ascended  in  triumph  praising  the 
Kedeemer  she  had  known  and  adored.  Mrs.  Dean  was 
the  younger  of  two  sisters  of  honored  ancestry.  Her 
father  was  a graduate  of  Trinity  College,  Cambridge, 
and  the  author  and  editor  of  several  literary  works ; 
among  which  were  his  Classical  Recreations,  and  The- 
saurus, besides  his  Parrienna,  and  a new  and  enlarged 
editon  of  Lempriere’s  Classical  Dictionary.  He  died  in 
London,  March,  1839.  His  daughter  Theodosia,  as  the 
name  indicates,  was  received  by  him  as  a “ gift  of  God,” 
and  during  the  years  of  her  childhood,  received  from 
his  cultivated  mind  and  classical  instructions  much  ad- 
vantage, while  the  intellectual  endowments  of  the  father 
seem,  in  an  eminent  degree,  to  have  been  inherited  by 
the  daughter.  In  addition  to  the  advantages  of  living 
under  the  literary  instructions  of  her  fond  father,  and 
the  elevating  example  of  an  affectionate  mother  from 
childhood,  she  was,  from  the  age  of  thirteen  to  sixteen, 
an  inmate  of  the  boarding-school  in  Bracondale,  kept 
by  the  nieces  of  Henry  Kirk  White,  where  she  en- 
joyed the  society  of  the  honored  mother  of  the  renowned 
poet,  and  all  the  hallowed  influence  to  be  secured  by  the 
membership  of  such  a family.  Here  her  taste,  naturally 
refined,  was  cultivated,  her  intellectual  powers  were  suc- 
cessfully disciplined,  and  her  piety,  discovered  in  early 
childhood  was  developed,  so  that  at  the  early  age  of 
seventeen  she  discovered  such  maturity  of  personal, 


DEAN. 


237 


mental  and  Christian  character,  that  she  received  from 
the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Female  Education  in 
the  East,  an  appointment  as  a missionary  to  China. 

For  a girl  so  young,  so  refined,  so  highly  educated,  to 
leave  home  and  an  endeared  circle  of  friends,  to  go  to 
the  opposite  side  of  the  globe  to  impart  her  religion  to 
heathen  women,  amid  all  the  dangers,  privations,  and 
embarrasments  of  such  an  enterprise,  might  naturally 
awaken  the  surprise  and  call  forth  the  remonstrance  of 
friends,  but  such  remonstrance,  instead  of  shaking  her 
purpose,  found  her  unmoved,  and  sustained  by  all  the 
deliberation  and  decision  of  maturer  years. 

The  following  extract  from  one  of  her  revered  corre- 
spondents, may  indicate  the  sentiments  of  many  others : 

“ My  Dear  Theodosia: — The  contents  of  your  last  did, 
indeed,  surprise  me.  Little  did  I think,  when  you  remarked 
to  me  in  one  of  your  letters  that  you  knew  not  when  and 
where  we  should  meet  again,  that  an  enterprise,  fraught 
with  such  peril,  was  then  absorbing  all  your  thoughts  and, 
your  prayers.  The  path  to  heaven  through  this  troub- 
lous world  has  ever  been  strewed  with  difficulty;  but 
the  course  of  a missionary,  who  can  describe  its  perils, 
or  conceive  its  dangers  and  privations?  Do  not  for  a 
moment,  my  ever  dear  friend,  think  I have  said  this  to 
discourage  you ; but  while  I admire  the  strong  faith  that 
manifests  itself  in  your  determination,  I do  think  your 
native  land  offers  ample  opportunities  for  manifesting  all 
your  piety  and  Christian  love. 

“ With  tender  love,  believe  me,  as  ever,  fondly  and 
sincerely,  your  friend.” 


238 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


These  persuasions  and  entreaties  of  honored  and  en- 
deared friends  proved  a severe  test  of  her  purpose  to 
leave  her  native  land,  but  that  purpose  was  not  the 
result  of  emotional  piety,  but  of  a maturity  of  judg- 
ment quite  in  advance  of  her  years.  Few  persons 
ever  discovered  a more  trembling  solicitude  to  learn 
what  was  right,  or  greater  decision  to  do  what  was 
duty. 

A few  months  after  Miss  Barker  received  her  appoint- 
ment were  spent  with  home  friends  in  preparation  for 
her  voyage.  At  length,  the  final  adieus  were  given,  the 
last  farewell  exchanged  with  her  fond  father  and  loving 
mother  and  affectionate  sister ; and  kind  and  cherished 
friends,  and  all  the  tender  ties  that  bound  her  young 
heart  so  strongly  to  home  and  native  land  were  sun- 
dered ; and  we  find  her  journal  headed  by  the  words, 
“ As  thy  day  is,  so  shall  thy  strength  be and  dated, 
“August  9,  1837.  Left  Hackney,  at  eight  o’clock  and 
proceeded  in  the  steamer  to  Gravesend,  from  whence  we 
immediately  embarked  on  board  the  ship  Hashemy.  I 
had  so  long — I may  say  daily  for  months — looked  for- 
ward to  leaving  my  native  land,  and  all  my  beloved 
friends,  that  I found  the  trial  less  than  I had  feared. 
Although,  in  the  afternoon.  I was  much  depressed,  at 
night  God  was  pleased  to  grant  me  much  enlargement 
in  prayer,  and  I felt  refreshed. 

“ August  10.  At  six,  this  morning,  we  were  towed 
away  by  steamer.  0,  my  beloved  country,  is  the  hour 
of  our  parting  come  ? Shall  I tread  no  more  thy  green 
hills  and  sea-girt  shore?  No  ; never,  never  I Yet  I re- 
coil not ; yea,  my  heart  rejoices  that  I am  on  my  way  to 


DEAN. 


239 


heathen  lands,  to  he  employed  in  my  Redeemer’s  service. 
What  a privilege !” 

Miss  Barker  enjoyed  the  companionship  of  Christian 
fellow- voyagers  from  England  to  Batavia,  hut  thence  to 
China  she  was  a lone  passenger.  On  reaching  Macao, 
she  became  a member  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Mr.  Gutzlaff, 
and  gave  herself  to  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language. 
This  she  had  commenced,  while  in  England,  under  the 
instruction  of  the  Chinese  professor  in  the  London  Uni- 
versity, and.  was  able,  soon  after  her  arrival  in  China,  to 
commence  her  instructions ; and  during  her  career  of 
five  years  among  the  Chinese,  had  learned  to  read  and 
Avrite  and  speak  the  language  with  rare  accuracy  for  a 
foreigner. 

On  the  27th  of  March,  1838,  Miss  Barker  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Rev.  W.  Dean,  at  Macao,  and  soon  after 
proceeded  to  his  station  at  Bangkok,  where  she  engaged 
with  great  zeal  and  success  in  her  appointed  Avork,  till 
the  first  part  of  1812,  Avhen  they  removed  to  Hong  Kong, 
and  organized  a new  Chinese  church,  and  planted  a new 
station  for  the  class  of  Chinese  speaking  the  Tie  Chiu 
dialect.  Here  she  entered  with  her  accustomed  ardor 
upon  her  chosen  labors,  and  continued  with  great  energy 
and  hopefulness  her  varied  engagements,  up  to  the  fatal 
attack  of  small-pox,  which  in  one  short  week  ended  her 
Avork.  She  died  at  Hong  Kong,  March  29tb,  1843,  on 
the  tAventy-fourth  anniversary  of  her  birth,  when,  before 
the  disease  had  fully  developed  itself,  the  silver  cord  Avas 
loosed,  and  the  happy  spirit  took  its  flight  to  that  Avorld 
where  death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory. 

By  the  death  of  Mrs.  Dean,  her  family  was  deprived 


240 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


of  its  light,  the  heathen  of  an  efficient  and  devoted 
teacher,  the  church  of  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments, 
and  the  mission  of  one  of  its  most  valued  and  useful 
members.  Her  mind  was  habitually  cheerful,  her  heart 
humble  and  prayerful,  her  judgment  discriminating  and 
sober,  her  habits  active  and  persevering ; her  life,  though 
short,  was  useful ; and  her  death,  though  sudden,  was 
peaceful  and  happy.  Her  piety  was  free  from  ostenta- 
tion and  display,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  the 
person  who,  more  happily  than  herself,  blended  the  du- 
ties of  the  missionary,  the  Christian  friend,  the  affection- 
ate wife,  and  the  fond  mother.  She  is  doubtless  now,  in 
company  with  some  to  whom  she  gave  the  first  lessons 
of  Christian  truth,  engaged  in  praising  Him  who  re- 
deemed them  each  by  his  own  precious  blood. 


DEV  AN. 

Mbs.  Lydia  Devan,  daughter  of  David  Hale,  Esq., 
one  of  the  editors  of  the  New  York  Journal  of  Com- 
merce, and  wife  of  Rev.  T.  T.  Devan,  M.  D.,  died  at 
Canton,  18th  of  October,  1846.  Mrs.  Devan  went  to 
China  with  her  husband,  in  1844,  under  the  patronage 
of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  afterward 
known  as  the  Missionary  Union.  After  remaining  for  a 
while  at  Hong  Kong,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Devan  took  up  their 
residence  at  the  city  of  Canton,  where  they  continued  in 
labors  abundant,  and  produced  impressions  for  good  upon 
the  people,  which  were  abiding.  Mrs.  Devan,  uniting 
high  mental  gifts  and  culture  with  the  kind  words  and 


DOOLITTLE. 


241 


genteel  bearing  of  a true  Christian  woman,  commanded 
respect  and  wielded  an  influence  for  good  over  all  around 
her.  Young  men  from  Christian  lands,  who  there  had 
strong  temptations  to  throw  off  the  restraints  of  Christi- 
anity, were  led  to  confess  great  obligations  to  her  kind 
words  and  pious  example ; while  the  heathen  revered 
and  loved  her  as  an  angel  of  mercy.  She  was  every- 
where a burning  and  a shining  light. 


DOOLITTLE. 

Mrs.  Sophia  A.  Doolittle,  wife  of  Rev.  J.  Doolittle, 
and  daughter  of  Luther  Hamilton,  Esq.,  was  born  at 
Flemming,  Cayuga  county,  Hew  York,  March  20,  1818. 
Her  father  was  a prominent  man  in  the  place  where  he 
lived,  and  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  The 
first  letters  received  by  Mrs.  Doolittle  in  China  conveyed 
to  her  the  tidings  of  the  death  of  this  honored  father, 
whose  pious  life  and  parental  counsels,  had  in  early  life 
brought  her,  in  her  right  mind,  to  sit  at  her  Saviour’s 
feet.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  years  she  was  baptized  and 
became  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  in  her  native 
town. 

In  1835  her  parents  removed  to  Auburn,  where  the 
daughter  became  a member  of  the  Baptist  church  under 
the  pastoral  care  of  Rev.  Mr.  Backus,  and  where  she 
conducted  a flourishing  school.  In  consequence  of  her 
father’s  financial  reverses  she  was  left  to  her  own  unaid- 
ed efforts  to  gain  an  education — and  though  the  struggle 

11 


242 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


was  severe,  the  success  was  triumphant.  She  became 
distinguished  as  a teacher,  and  had  discovered  taste  and 
talent  for  music,  poetry  and  painting.  She  spent  about 
ten  years  in  teaching,  first  at  Auburn,  then  at  Dansville, 
and  finally  as  preceptress  of  the  Ithaca  Academy.  These 
were  years  of  noble  deeds  and  successful  service  in  the 
cause  of  education.  Her  early  struggles  and  patient 
toils,  first  for  her  own,  and  then  for  the  education  of 
her  sisters,  and  her  sex,  furnish  a lustrous  example  of 
woman’s  noble  endeavors,  and  embalm  her  name  in 
the  hallowed  memories  of  those  who  were  allowed  to 
enjoy  in  her  the  relationship  of  daughter,  sister,  teacher, 
wife  and  mother. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  on  the  20th  of  June,  1849, 
was  united  in  marriage  to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Doolittle,  who 
having  been  a student  at  Hamilton  College  and  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary,  was  on  the  same  day  ordained 
to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  by  the  Presbytery 
of  Cayuga.  He  had  already  been  accepted  by  the 
American  Board  as  a candidate  for  missionary  service 
in  China. 

A few  months  were  spent  in  preparing  their  outfit 
and  visiting  their  friends,  and  taking  the  last  farewell 
of  home ; and  on  the  22d  of  November,  1849,  they  em- 
barked at  Boston  for  China,  in  the  ship  Santao.  Their 
fellow-passengers  were  the  Rev.  Mesrs.  W.  A.  P and  S. 
N.  Martin,  two  brothers,  and  their  wives,  destined  as  a 
reinforcement  of  the  Ningpo  mission,  under  the  Pres- 
byterian Board.  After  a voyage  of  four  months  and 
a half,  they  landed  at  Hong  Kong,  where  the}*-  enjoyed 
the  hospitalities  of  Richard  Cole,  Esq.,  printer  and  type 


DOOLITTLE. 


243 


founder,  of  the  London  Missionary  Society.  On  the  8th 
of  May  an  opportunity  offered  a passage  for  them  to 
Full  Chau.  They  touched  at  Amoy,  a city  on  the  coast, 
but  in  the  same  province  with  Fuh  Chau,  where  they 
spent  a few  days  with  the  members  of  the  mission  first 
commenced  by  the  lamented  Abeel. 

They  reached  Fuh  Chau  May  31,  1850,  and  found  a 
temporary  home  in  the  family  of  Rev.  Mr.  Peet,  till  a 
house  could  be  prepared  for  them. 

Mrs.  Doolittle,  by  her  cheerful  activity  and  Christian 
devotion,  did  much  to  inspire  others  with  her  zeal  and 
courage  in  their  work,  while  she  engaged  in  the  service 
of  teaching,  first  a school  of  boys,  and  afterward  a com- 
pany of  girls,  which  after  great  effort  were  gathered  for 
instruction.  The  Chinese  looking  upon  the  education  of 
their  girls  as  a needless  expense,  and  sending  them  to 
missionaries  a dangerous  experiment,  were  slow  to  give 
their  consent;  but  at  length  schools  were  opened  by  Mrs. 
Maclay,  Mrs.  Cummings  and  Mrs.  Doolittle.  The  latter 
was  commenced  with  a small  number  of  girls  in  1853, 
but  with  pleasing  results.  Here,  amid  the  darkness  of 
paganism,  the  alarm  of  insurgents,  threatening  famine, 
perils  by  robbers,  prostration  by  climate  and  disease,  she 
still  held  on  her  way  and  prosecuted  her  work. 

In  1854  Mr.  Doolittle,  in  consequence  of  his  own 
health,  spent  the  summer  in  the  southern  ports  of  China, 
attended  by  his  family,  but  returned  in  November  with 
health  renewed  to  resume  his  work.  But  in  the  midst 
of  these  blessed  labors  and  brightening  prospects  for  still 
greater  usefulness,  Mrs.  Doolittle  was  cut  down,  June  21, 
1856. 


244 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  parting  scene  is  thus  described  by  an  eye  witness : 
“ At  length  Mr.  Doolittle  requested  me  to  bring  Henry. 
He  was  sleeping  quietly,  all  unconscious  that  his  moth- 
er was  so  soon  to  be  removed  from  him.  He  is  a small 
and  delicate  child,  her  only  one,  about  two  and  a half 
years  old.  I brought  him  over  in  my  arms  .and  gave 
him  to  his  father,  who  roused  him  from  his  slumbers 
and  held  him  on  the  bed  near  his  mother.  The  scene 
which  ensued  I am  sure  my  feeble  pen  can  not  ade- 
quately describe.  0 ! it  was  a precious  scene,  on  which 
angels  might  look  with  rapture.  Her  darling,  only  boy, 
was  before  her,  the  child  of  her  most  ardent  attachment, 
as  we  had  so  often  seen  it  so  tenderly  manifested  in  days 
gone  by.  The  whole  mother  was  aroused  in  her  soul. 
She  stretched  forth  her  hand  toward  him  and  cried  out 
in  tones  of  most  melting  tenderness  and  love,  ‘ Little 
Henry ! little  Henry ! little  bird  ! Mother  loves  little 
Harry,  very  much  she  loves  him.’  These  tones  so  rich, 
so  full,  so  almost  unearthly,  seem  to  fall  again  on  my 
ear  while  writing.  Perhaps  I shall  never  forget  the  sub- 
lime scene  and  those  melting  words.  I trust  I never 
shall.  They  are  to  my  mind  proof  of  the  strength  of 
maternal  love,  which  volumes  could  scarcely  deepen. 
She  stretched  forth  her  hand  and  laid  it  tremblingly  on 
the  head  of  her  little  boy,  where  it  was  held  steadily  by 
her  husband’s  hand,  and  in  those  same  earnest,  clear, 
rich  tones,  which  I have  never  heard  in  all  my  lifetime, 
she  said : 1 Thy  will  be  done.  God  bless  us  all,  and 

take  us  all  to  heaven.’  She  said  no  more,  but  fell  asleep 
in  him  to  whom  she  had  committed  all.” 


DOTY. 


245 


The  following  lines  are  from  Mrs.  Doolittle’s  pen  : 

TO  MY  BROTHER. 

Alone  this  evening,  brother, 

I sit  and  think  of  thee  ; 

The  stillness  of  the  moonlight  hour 
Now  beauty  adds  to  fancy’s  power, 

As  round  thy  name  it  wreaths  a flower 
To  memory. 

I see  thee  now  enraptured 
By  learning’s  guiding  light, 

As  step  by  step  its  meteor  spark 
Through  doubt  and  gloom,  and  shadow  dark, 

Still  woos  thee  to  a higher  mark — 

Fame’s  giddy  height. 

0 1 banish  every  gloomy  care, 

To  life’s  great  end  aspire : 

The  good,  the  beautiful  and  true, 

Do  thou  through  all  thy  life  pursue, 

Then  God  will  weave  a wreath  for  you ; 

This  I desire. 


D 0 TY. 

Mrs.  Doty,  the  wife  of  Eev.  E.  Doty,  and  daughter 
of  Mr.  Hezekiah  Acley  of  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  died 
at  Amoy,  China,  October  5th,  1845,  aged  thirty-nine 
years.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  she  professed  her  faith  in 
Christ,  and  in  June,  1836,  she  was  one  of  the  number 
who  went  out  under  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  to  es- 
tablish a mission  in  Netherlands  India.  When  the  five 
ports  were  opened  in  China,  Mrs.  Doty,  with  her  husband, 
removed  to  Amoy,  where  in  a rich  harvest  field  and 


246 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


brightening  prospect  for  usefulness,  she  continued  but 
fifteen  months  and  was  removed  to  a higher  service  above. 
Her  health  was  never  very  vigorous,  and  her  decline  to 
the  grave  was  gradual  and  her  end  was  peace.  Her 
funeral  services  were  performed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Pohlman, 
who  at  the  same  station  but  five  days  before  buried  his 
own  wife.  Mrs.  Doty  left  two  daughters  in  that  heathen 
land  to  mourn  a tender  mother’s  loss. 

Mr.  Doty,  after  taking  his  motherless  daughters  to 
America,  returned  to  China  with  his  second  wife  in  1847. 
W e recollect  the  freshness  of  health  and  promise  of  use- 
fulness which  this  woman  brought  to  China,  as  we  en- 
joyed a brief  interview  on  the  little  vessel  in  the  harbor 
of  Hong  Kong,  ia  which  she  had  embarked  for  Amoy. 
The  picture  of  her  womanly  form  and  pleasing  face  still 
lingers  on  the  memory,  and  we  felt  to  congratulate  the 
man  who  had  such  a wife,  and  the  mission  at  Amoy  for 
such  an  accession  to  its  numbers.  After  about  ten  years, 
this  mission  was  again  in  mourning  and  Mr.  Doty  was 
again  a widower.  The  second  Mrs.  Doty  died  February 
28,  1858. 


DYER. 

Rev.  Samuel  Dyer  was  born  January  20th,  1804,  at 
the  Royal  Hospital  at  Greenwich,  near  London,  of  which 
his  father  was  then  secretary.  His  mother  was  an  edu- 
cated and  pious  woman,  who  lived  to  see  her  son  em- 
ployed as  a missionary  to  the  heathen.  Samuel’s  educa- 
tion, till  he  was  twelve  years  old,  was  conducted  under 


DYER. 


247 


the  parental  roof,  where  he  enjoyed  largely  the  advantages 
of  religious  instruction  and  a pious  example.  In  those 
youthful  days  be  was  distinguished  for  his  docility  of 
temper  and  his  application  to  learning.  His  moral  prin- 
ciples were  strong  even  at  that  period,  and  he  scrupu- 
lously avoided  the  society  of  boys  of  corrupting  habits. 
About  this  time  he  was  sent  to  a boarding  school  at 
Woolwich,  where  his  teacher  speaks  in  high  commenda- 
tion of  his  moral  influence  and  progress  in  learning.  In 
1820  his  father  having  succeeded  to  the  chief  clerkship 
of  the  Admiralty,  removed  from  Greenwich  to  Padding- 
ton, in  the  neighborhood  of  London.  Here  Mr.  Dyer 
found  a location  for  his  family,  consisting  of  five  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and  a home  in  the  house  of  God, 
where  they  enjoyed  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  J. 
Stratton.  Here  Mr.  Dyer  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
deacon,  and  his  son  Samuel  found  himself  under  influ- 
ences and  engaged  in  employments  congenial  to  his  taste. 
To  the  blessing  of  God  on  the  ministrations  he  enjoyed 
at  Paddington  chapel  he  attributed  his  salvation. 

The  following  letter  to  his  pastor,  from  Penang,  alludes 
to  the  time  and  means  of  his  conversion  : 

“ My  dear  brother,  and  father  in  Christ,  whom  I love 
exceedingly  in  the  gospel  of  our  adorable  Redeemer — it 
grieves  me  exceedingly,  beloved  brother,  to  find  from 
your  favor  of  November,  that  you  have  not  received 
either  of  my  two  letters  in  answer  to  your  acceptable 
presents.  You  must  think  me  ungrateful,  and  yet  you 
do  not  drop  a hint  to  that  effect ; indeed  your  letter  is  so 
kind  that  it  has  melted  my  cold  heart.  In  very  deed, 


248 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


beloved  brother,  my  inmost  soul  glows  with  ardent  love 
to  you.  I never  felt  in  England  as  I have  felt  in  India 
towards  my  parents,  among  whom  I reckon  yourself. 
W ere  it  possible  for  me  to  take  the  wings  of  a dove  and 
fly  across  seas  and  continents,  I should  like,  above  all 
things,  one  short  visit  to  the  parental  abode  that  I might 
pay  yet  one  last  tribute  of  filial  affection.  And  methinks 
if  it  be  congenial  with  the  state  of  the  blessed,  after  hav- 
ing entered  the  celestial  portals,  I shall  first  of  all,  in 
lowly  adoration,  bow  at  the  footstool  of  the  triune  God, 
and  then  I shall  hasten,  with  overflowing  affection,  to 
receive  the  welcome  benediction  of  honored  and  esteemed 
parents.  But  to  sum  up  all  in  one  word,  pen  and  ink 
will  not  express  the  glowings  of  my  affections  towards 
you  and  other  dear  friends  in  England. 

“I  am  happy,  oh,  very  happy,  in  this  blessed  work,  al- 
though the  least  and  meanest  of  all  the  laborers  in  the 
vineyard.  The  Lord  is  pleased  to  give  me  his  grace 
from  day  to  day,  so  that,  although  humbled  to  the  dust 
on  account  of  my  own  weakness,  ashamed  of  my  want 
of  love  and  zeal,  and  sinking  into  nothing  at  the  thought 
of  my  insufficiency,  something  helps  me  to  persevere. 
Oh ! it  must  be  the  grace  of  God,  which  is  as  necessary 
from  day  to  day  as  daily  food. 

“ Paddington  lives  in  my  warmest  affection.  It  was 
there  I kneeled  on  the  separating  line  between  Christ  and 
the  world.  I kneeled  and  prayed  for  strength  to  side 
with  Christ.  I arose,  and  was  inwardly  assisted  to  turn 
my  back  upon  the  world.  And  from  that  good  day  to 
this  Jesus  has  been  precious  to  my  soul. 

“ To  all  Paddington  friends  present  my  sincere  love. 


DYER 


249 


Tell  them  I hope  to  see  them  soon — in  1 a moment,’  as 
the  apostle  speaks.  We  have  one  home,  far  away,  hut 
we  know  not  bow  near.  Pray  for  me,  beloved  brother, 
even  as  ye  also  do.  Your  very  affectionate  brother, 

“Samuel  Dyer.” 

While  at  Paddington,  he  was  a teacher  in  the  Sabbath 
School,  where  the  following  tablet,  since  erected  in  the 
school-room,  shows  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held 
by  his  associates  and  pupils : 

IN  REMEMBRANCE 

OP  SAMUEL  DYER, 

WHO  WAS  FOR  SEVERAL  TEARS  A HUMBLE,  PIOUS,  AND  FAITHFUL 

TEACHER  IN  THIS  SCHOOL: 

AND  WHO,  DEVOTING  HIMSELF  TO  THE  SERVICE  OF  HIS  BLESSED 

REDEEMER, 

WAS,  ON  THE  20TH  OF  FEBRUARY,  1821, 

HERE  SOLEMNLY  SET  APART  AS  A MISSIONARY  OF  THE  GOSPEL,  AND  HAVING 

LEFT  HIS  NATIVE  LAND  FOR  THE  SHORES  OF  INDIA,  IN  THE  PROVI- 
DENCE OF  GOD,  ARRIVED  SAFELY  AT  HIS  DESTINATION, 

PENANG, 

OR  PRINCE  OF  WALES  ISLAND,  IN  THE  CHINA  SEAS, 

August  8th,  1827. 

“ By  faith  unfeigned,  sincere  brotherly  love,  patient  continuance  in  well-doing,  and 
the  ornament  of  a meek  and  quiet  spirit,  he  endeared  himself  to  us  while  he  labored 
here,  and  his  memory  will  long  be  cherished  with  affectionate  regard  by  all  who 
knew  him.  To  perpetuate  the  remembrance  of  such  an  example  of  missionary  zeal, 
this  humble  memorial  is  set  up. 

“ The  Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  thy  spirit.”— 2 Tim.,  iv.  22. 

In  reply  to  his  friends,  who  sent  him  a copy  of  the 
tablet,  he  says : 

“ The  copy  of  the  tablet  awakened  in  my  mind  pecu- 
liar feelings — conscious  unworthiness , humiliation  before 
God,  love  to  you — but  I can  not  describe  my  feelings. 

ID* 


250 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


W ould  that  in  very  deed  and  in  truth  I were  a man  of 
faith,  love,  and  meekness ; but  it  does  not  become  me  to 
enlarge  on  this  subject. 

“ Glad  should  I be,  my  beloved  brethren  and  sisters, 
if  some  of  you  would  come  into  the  Lord’s  vineyard.  I 
offer  to  you  the  convictions  of  my  maturest  judgment, 
that  should  any  of  you  engage  in  the  missionary  cause 
with  proper  motives,  you  will  never,  for  a single  moment, 
regret  the  greatest  sacrifices  you  may  be  called  to  make.” 

His  application  to  the  London  Missionary  Society,  for 
an  appointment  as  a missionary,  is  dated  June  23,  1824: 

“ Gentlemen  : — The  purport  of  this  communication 
is  to  introduce  myself  to  your  notice,  and  to  offer  my 
services  for  the  promotion  of  the  cause  in  which  you  are 
engaged,  in  doing  which,  I suppose  it  to  be  proper  to 
state  to  you  briefly  my  history  and  my  views. 

“ From  a very  early  age  I had  a predilection  for  the  bar. 
This  continued  for  some  years,  until  it  became  necessary 
for  me  to  take  some  decisive  steps.  I then  entered  my- 
self as  a student  in  the  Inner  Temple  [the  great  law 
school  of  London],  and  about  two  years  after  became  a 
member  of  the  University  of  Cambridge.  It  was  my  in- 
tention to  graduate,  and  after  that  to  follow  the  profession 
of  law.  After  I had  resided  at  Cambridge  some  time,  I 
understood  that  I could  not  graduate  without  becoming 
a member  of  the  established  church ; but,  as  I foresaw 
that  I could  not  conscientiously  do  this,  I resolved  to 
leave  the  university,  and  did  so  in  my  fifth  term.  I think 
it  was  in  the  second  term  of  residence  that  I conceived 
a wish  to  become  a missionary,  from  the  circumstance  of 


DYER. 


251 


reading  the  memoir  of  one  of  your  missionaries,  with 
whom  I was  in  some  measure  acquainted.  However,  this 
desire  of  going  abroad  was  stifled  after  a short  time.  I do 
not  know  if  ever  I have  perused  the  memoir  since,  but 
the  same  wish  has  been  called  forth.  When  I left  the 
university,  I directed  my  attention  to  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel,  and  since  then  my  way  seems  gradually  to  have 
been  made  clear.  I am,  therefore,  induced  to  offer  my- 
self entirely  and  without  reserve  to  your  disposal. 

“ I am,  gentlemen,  your  most  obedient  servant, 

“ Samuel  Dyer.” 

His  pastor  commended  him  to  the  directors  of  the 
Missionary  Society  as  a young  man  of  special  aptitude 
in  acquiring  language,  of  good  literary  acquirements,  and 
talents  of  a solid  and  improving  kind ; and  adds,  that 
besides  sacrificing  his  prospects  at  the  bar,  he  would  have 
to  relinquish  an  annual  income  by  becoming  a missionary. 

He  was  accepted  by  the  society,  and  repaired  for  a 
time  to  the  missionary  seminary  at  Gosport,  in  the  south 
of  England,  then  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Bogue.  His  po- 
sition and  prospects  here  contrasted  strongly  with  those 
of  the  law  student  at  the  University  of  Cambridge,  but 
the  change  to  him  never  ceased  to  be  the  occasion  of  sat- 
isfaction and  joy.  When  learning  that  China  was  his 
destined  field  of  labor,  he  says,  “ There  is  no  station 
which  I would  have  preferred  to  the  Chinese,  and  the 
language  will  be  met,  at  least,  with  pleasure,  if  not  mas- 
tered.” He  adds  : “ I sometimes  think  I shall  see  but 
little  more  of  my  friends,  and  the  thought  has  pained 
me ; but  never  am  I so  desirous  of  the  work  of  a mis- 


252 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


sionary  as  then.  Willingly  will  I forsake  my  friends 
for  Christ,  though  I love  them  so  dearly.  The  love  of 
home,  parents  and  friends,  remind  me,  when  called  forth, 
to  an  unusual  degree,  of  the  great  theme  that  demanded 
stronger  love  still ; but,  whether  in  England  or  India, 
my  heart  shall  never  cease  to  bear  an  affection  towards 
those  who  have  been  my  companions  and  guides  from 
my  infancy  to  my  riper  years.” 

His  theological  teacher,  Dr.  Bogue,  says  of  him,  that 
there  is  every  prospect  of  his  proving  an  invaluable 
missionary  to  the  heathen,  and  adds  that  the  foundation 
of  missionary  qualification  must  be  laid  in  a thorough 
course  of  theological  study.  All  missionaries  should  be 
first-rate  divines,  since  errors  taught  by  them,  or  a doc- 
trine perverted,  or  even  forgotten,  may  have  extensively 
pernicious  effects  on  the  people  of  the  country  in  which 
they  are  attempting  to  plant  the  gospel. 

At  this  time  Dr.  Morrison  was  on  a visit  to  England, 
and  it  gave  him  no  small  pleasure  to  find  in  the  family 
of  Samuel  Dyer’s  father,  the  boy  he  had  there  known 
twenty  years  before,  now  the  appointed  colleague  of  his 
* missionary  labors  for  the  Chinese.  By  the  aid  of  Dr. 
Morrison  and  the  books  he  had  sent  home,  young  Dyer 
had  in  England  made  such  a beginning  in  the  Chinese, 
as  to  be  able  to  read  imperfectly  the  sacred  Scriptures  in 
that  language.  On  the  20th  of  February,  1827,  he  was 
ordained  at  Paddington  chapel  as  a missionary  to  the 
heathen,  and  on  the  10th  of  the  following  month,  he  left 
the  shores  of  England  amidst  the  prayers,  tears  and  best 
wishes  of  many.  The  ordination  was  a season  of  much 
interest,  and  the  renewal  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  the 


DYER. 


258 


conversion  of  some  souls  that  night  sealed  the  service 
with  the  approbation  of  God. 

Soon  after  his  ordination  Mr.  Dyer  was  married  to  the 
eldest  daughter  of  Joseph  Tarn,  Esq.,  one  of  the  direct- 
ors of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  and,  on  the  day 
before  specified,  they  sailed  for  the  Straits  of  Malacca. 

He  was  destined  to  take  charge  of  the  Anglo-Chinese 
College  at  Malacca.  This  name,  for  such  an  elementary 
school,  was  given  in  anticipation  of  what  it  was  to  be, 
rather  than  what  it  then  was — as  the  infant  bears  the 
name  of  the  man  he  hopes  to  become.  Mr.  Dyer,  on 
reaching  Penang,  or  Prince  of  Wales  Island,  changed 
his  station,  pending  the  approval  of  the  society  at  home, 
and  finally  made  Penang  his  field  of  labor. 

He  landed  there  August,  1827,  when  the  Chinese 
mission  had  been  vacated  by  the  death  of  his  pred- 
ecessor, the  Eev.  Mr.  Ince,  who  had  gone  to  his  rest  in 
1825,  leaving  scarcely  any  trace  of  his  labors,  except  a 
small  Chinese  school. 

Mr.  Dyer  says,  in  a letter  to  his  sister,  “ Penang  is  a 
very  pretty  place,  woody  in  the  extreme,  as  are  all  the 
neighboring  islands.  There  are  several  lofty  hills  to 
which  Europeans  resort  for  the  benefit  of  their  health. 
From  the  foot  of  the  hills  to  the  sea  is  a gradual  descent, 
so  that  good  water,  the  source  of  which  is  a waterfall 
from  the  mountains,  is  conveyed  in  an  aqueduct  of  clay 
to  the  English  town.  We  reside  within  two  hundred 
yards  of  the  sea.  This  (September)  is  the  rainy  season, 
and  the  most  unpleasant  throughout  the  year ; yet  it  is 
far  from  being  disagreeable.  We  have  rain  every  day, 
but  then  it  is  in  heavy  showers,  which  are  followed  by 


254 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


sunshine.  During  this  season  it  is  pleasantly  cool  in 
the  daytime.  The  nights  are  always  cool,  and  I believe 
Penang  equally  healthy  with  Singapore.  But  the  most 
healthy  place  in  India  requires  that  we  should  be  very 
careful  of  exposure.” 

Penang  is  a beautiful  island,  situated  just  north  of  the 
equator,  abounding  with  nutmeg  and  other  spice  trees, 
and  has  not  unfitly  been  denominated  the  paradise  of 
the  East.  The  town  contains  a population  of  about  ten 
thousand  Chinese,  besides  representatives  of  twenty  or 
thirty  Indian  nations.  Mr.  Dyer  gave  himself  to  labors  for 
the  Chinese,  and  soon  after  his  arrival  wrote  home  that  he 
was  not  then  able  to  preach  in  the  F uh-Keen  dialect,  but 
he  hoped  to  do  so  in  a few  weeks.  This  was  in  1827, 
and  in  1834  a missionary  called  there,  when  Mr.  Dyer 
remarked,  that  he  had  been  preaching  for  some  years  to 
the  Chinese,  but  finding  that  the  people  did  not  under- 
stand him,  he  had  closed  his  chapel  till  he  had  learned 
the  language.  This  remark  was  made  by  one  who  finally 
acquired  perhaps  the  most  accurate  knowledge  of  the 
Chinese  language  of  any  foreigner.  He  says,  “ I am  glad 
I did  not  know  all  the  difficulties  before  they  were  half 
encountered,  otherwise  I might  not  have  had  courage  to 
grapple  with  them.” 

He  says,  “the  Chinese  universally  worship  idols.  You 
can  not  go  into  a Chinese  house,  but  it  has  an  idol,  an 
altar,  and  incense.  If  a man  have  no  idol,  a Chinaman 
will  say  he  is  a bad  man.  The  Chinese  are  affable, 
friendly,  and  assent  to  all  I say  about  Jesus  Christ,  and 
some  go  so  far  as  to  be  zealous  in  telling  others  the  same 
things,  without  affording  proof  that  they  are  true  be- 


DYER. 


255 


lievers.”  He  says,  “ I have  lately  made  a journey  into 
the  interior  and  southward  of  Penang,  to  distribute 
books,  and  was  everywhere  kindly  received.  After  my 
return  home  I was  visited  by  one  who  asked  for  the 
whole  Bible.  After  speaking  to  him  about  Jesus  Christ, 
I sent  him  away  with  the  New  Testament,  promising  him 
the  Old  the  next  time  he  came.”  He  adds,  “ I can  not 
at  present  do  much  actual  work,  but  have  three  Chinese 
schools,  and  these  schools,  taught  by  native  teachers, 
contain  fifty  pupils,  all  of  whom  are  learning  Scripture 
truth. 

“ These  schools  are  sustained  at  little  expense,  while 
Christian  school-books  are  introduced,  and  teachers  and 
pupils  are  brought  under  Christian  influence  and  instruc- 
tion. 

“ The  Chinese  who  call  on  me  receive  Christian  books ; 
in  this  they  differ  from  the  Malays,  who  will  not.”  The 
latter  are  mostly  Mohammedans,  who  everywhere  dis- 
cover a decided  hostility  to  Christianity.  These  have 
performed  the  most  revolting  part  in  the  slaughter  of 
Christian  teachers  and  converts,  during  the  recent  insur- 
rection in  India.  These  have  furnished  bands  of  rob- 
bers and  pirates  who  have  made  sport  of  tortures  more 
agonizing  than  the  Inquisition , and  for  an  amusement  in- 
dulged in  all  the  shocking  barbarities  of  cannibalism  ! 
Some  of  the  missionaries  have  been  eaten  by  them,  while 
others  will  carry  to  their  graves  the  marks  of  their 
deadly  weapons. 

The  language  or  languages  of  China  differ  from  all 
those  known  to  the  nations  of  the  West,  in  almost  every 
point  in  which  languages  can  differ  from  one  another. 


256 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


That  which  is  spoken  is  not,  and  on  their  system  can  not 
be  written,  and  that  which  is  written  has  no  alphabet, 
nor  any  thing  approaching  in  the  remotest  degree  to  the 
alphabetic  system.  In  order,  therefore,  to  communicate 
oral  and  written  instruction  to  the  Chinese,  two  lan- 
guages have  to  be  acquired,  each  possessing  difficulties 
of  a very  peculiar  character.  In  the  spoken , the  nasals, 
aspirates  and  tones  are  among  the  difficulties;  in  the 
written,  forty  thousand  symbols  to  be  memorized,  without 
declension,  conjugation  or  comparison,  may  test  the  cour- 
age of  the  aspiring  student.  Mr.  Dyer,  more  than  most 
others,  apprehended  the  difficulties  of  the  language  and 
mastered  them.  His  ear  was  nice  to  discriminate  the 
sounds,  and  his  organs  of  speech  adapted  to  utter  them. 

Among  his  multiplied  labors  Mr.  Dyer  made  a success- 
ful effort  in  typography.  This  he  did  under  great  disad- 
vantages, and  overcame  difficulties  before  which  men  of 
ordinary  ingenuity  and  perseverance  would  have  tired 
and  turned  away.  He  saw  that  in  a language  of  forty 
thousand  words  there  must  be  many  seldom  used,  and 
some  never  required  in  Christian  books.  Therefore, 
instead  of  cutting  a punch  for  each  character  as  arranged 
in  the  Imperial  Dictionary,  he  selected  such  Christian 
books  as  were  within  his  reach,  including  the  ver- 
sion of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  such  native  books  as 
treated  of  subjects  of  a moral  and  religious  character, 
and  formed  his  estimate  of  the  frequency  with  which 
each  character  is  used  in  each  book.  In  this  way  he  es- 
timated the  number  of  punches  to  be  cut  for  his  font  and 
the  probable  number  of  each  character  required  to  set  up 
his  forms. 


D YEE. 


257 


In  this  he  had  to  tread  an  unbeaten  path  and  to  per- 
form a herculean  task.  His  investigations  settled  some 
important  points,  and  the  first  was,  that  instead  of  forty 
thousand  characters  about  five  thousand  would  be  suffi- 
cient for  all  the  practical  purposes  of  the  Christian  mis- 
sionary. This  was  on  the  supposition  that  an  occasional 
character  should  be  cut  to  supply  any  deficiency  in  the 
font  which  might  be  discovered  in  reducing  it  to  practice. 
Mr.  Dyer  lived  to  see  his  desire  accomplished  after  giv- 
ing to  this  work  the  prayerful  toil  of  several  years  of  his 
missionary  life. 

Fonts  of  these  type  have  been  completed  in  two  differ- 
ent sizes  and  put  into  successful  use.  They  are  impor- 
tant in  all  printing  where  Chinese  and  English  are  com- 
bined, such  as  grammars  and  dictionaries,  when  the  two 
languages  are  necessarily  printed  on  the  same  page.  For 
want  of  such,  a substitute  in  some  cases  has  been  found 
by  cutting  the  Chinese  character  on  the  blank  face  of  a 
block  of  type  metal.  This  is  an  expensive  and  unsatis- 
factory process. 

For  the  printing  of  the  Scriptures  and  tracts,  or  any 
book  which  requires  only  the  Chinese  character,  it  still 
remains  a question  whether  we  gain  any  thing  in  econ- 
omy, expedition  or  beauty,  the  Chinese  being  judges,  by 
substituting  the  metallic  for  the  common  Chinese  mode 
of  block  printing.  This  was  practiced  in  China  for  sev- 
eral hundred  years  before  printing  was  known  in  Eu- 
rope. It  is  done  simply  by  preparing  a board  half  an 
inch  thick,  the  size  of  the  page  or  leaf,  and  planing  it 
smooth  on  each  side,  and  then  the  MS.  being  accurately 
written  out  is  pasted  on  the  board  which  receives  the 


258 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


impression  of  the  characters ; then  the  spaces  are  carved 
out,  leaving  the  strokes  of  the  character  as  a stereotype 
plate  from  which  the  impressions  are  taken. 

They  also  use  wax  plates,  which  are  prepared  by 
spreading  a coat  of  wax  on  a wooden  frame,  after  which, 
with  a graving  tool,  they  cut  the  characters  thereon. 
This  method  is  rarely  adopted  except  in  cases  of  haste 
and  urgency. 

They  also  cut  or  cast  movable  types,  but  these  are 
not  in  common  use  among  the  Chinese. 

The  Chinese,  in  their  own  method  of  block  printing, 
will  furnish  ink  and  paper,  and  print  and  bind  the  entire 
New  Testament,  at  an  expense  varying  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  cents  per  copy. 

In  relation  to  the  rules  for  translation,  Mr.  Dyer  says  : 

“Indefinite  expressions  should  be  avoided,  where  the 
sense  is  definite. 

“ Faithfulness  consists  in  exact  correspondence  rather 
than  in  exact  similarity. 

“ In  translating  the  sacred  Scriptures,  the  more  haste 
the  less  speed.  A single  gospel,  or  epistle,  or  the  Psalms, 
in  its  translation  and  revision,  may  profitably  go  on  through 
two  or  five,  or  even  ten  years.” 

In  1885  Mr.  Dyer  removed  to  Malacca,  where  schools 
were  established,  and  where  the  printing  press  and  the 
type  foundry  were  put  in  successful  operation. 

He  had  there  the  aid  of  Liang  Afa  as  an  assistant  in 
preaching  to  the  Chinese. 

He  had  been  there  scarcely  four  years,  when,  in  1839, 
the  severe  illness  of  Mrs.  Dyer  compelled  them  to  visit 
England.  Concerning  this  trial,  he  says,  “ Our  only  wish 


DYER. 


259 


is  to  live  for  tlie  glory  of  the  Saviour,  and  the  good  of 
China.  When  we  go,  we  leave  our  hearts  in  China. 
We  go  from  home,  not  to  home.  Happy,  thrice  happy, 
shall  I be  to  join  again  the  little  band  of  devoted  mis- 
sionaries.” 

On* the  18th  of  September,  1839,  he  writes,  “Last  night 
will  never  be  forgotten  by  us,  inasmuch  as  we  weathered 
the  most  terrific  hurricane  off  the  Goodwin  Sands  you 
can  possibly  imagine ; and  were  very  nearly  lost,  for  we 
struck,  but,  through  the  merciful  interposition  of  our 
heavenly  Father,  we  anchored  safe  in  the  Downs  last 
night,  and  landed  this  morning.” 

He  spent,  in  England,  about  two  years  in  advocating 
the  cause  he  had  at  heart,  when  Mrs.  Dyer’s  health  was 
so  far  recovered  as  to  warrant  a return  to  their  delightful 
labors  among  the  heathen. 

He  and  his  family  embarked  on  the  2d  of  August,  1841, 
on  board  the  Plantagenet  bound  for  Calcutta.  It  was  his 
happiness  to  have  met  in  England  with  a young  lady  well 
qualified  to  teach  his  children,  who  went  Avith  them  to 
India  as  governess,  which  saved  him  the  pain  of  leaving 
his  children  in  his  native  land,  while  he  should  go  abroad 
to  see  them  no  more. 

Two  days  after,  he  wrote  to  his  father,  and  sent  by  the 
pilot  a letter,  in  which  we  find  the  following  expression : 
“We  have  now  a favorable  breeze,  and  being  a fine,  clear 
day,  we  see  the  cliffs  of  Albion,  pardon  me  if  I say,  I 
trust  for  the  last  time.  You  well  know  it  is  not  for  want 
of  patriotism  that  I say  this,  for  the  land  of  my  fathers 
is  dearer  to  me  than  all  lands,  save  ‘ the  land  that  is  very 
far  off.’  Neither  is  it  the  want  of  filial  affection,  for  I 


260 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


could  not  have  left  mj  honored  father  without  the  assur- 
ance that  I should  soon  see  him  again,  and  be  with  him 
for  ever.  But  when  I think  of  the  three  hundred  and 
fifty  millions  of  China  perishing  for  lack  of  knowledge — 
when  I remember  that  Jesus  Christ  died  for  our  sins,  and 
not  for  ours  only,  but  also  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world 
— and  that  it  is  in  vain  that  he  died  for  them  unless  they 
are  made  acquainted  with  the  fact — 0 then  every  object 
in  this  world  dwindles  into  insignificance  compared  with 
the  object  of  carrying  the  glad  news  to  a dying  world !” 

After  seventy-five  days’  sail  from  Portsmouth,  they 
landed  at  Cape  Town,  South  Africa.  He  called  at  the 
house  of  Dr.  Philip,  but  found  only  Mrs.  Philip,  the  doc- 
tor being  absent  on  a visitation  to  the  stations  interior, 
from  which  he  received  encouraging  reports.  “What 
think  you,”  said  he,  “ of  meeting  two  hundred  and  fifty 
at  a prayer  meeting  in  the  interior  of  Africa  ?” 

They  reached  Calcutta  about  the  middle  of  December, 
where  they  remained  for  three  weeks,  concerning  which 
he  writes,  “ Oh  ! the  foul  deeds  that  are  done  in  this  dark, 
dark  land ! Deeds  that  make  one  feel  horrified  to  think 
that  human  nature  can  sink  so  low.  Deeds,  the  bare 
knowledge  of  which  seems  to  defile  and  pollute  the  soul ; 
and  yet  I would  that  friends  in  Britain  knew  them,  for 
then  I think  they  would  be  all  zeal,  all  fire,  all  liberality, 
if  perhaps  they  might  raise  human  nature  from  a state 
lower  than  that  of  the  very  brutes.” 

There  are  at  least  thirty  evangelical  ministers  in  Cal- 
cutta. There  are  Episcopalians,  Baptists,  Presbyterians, 
Independents,  and  eighteen  of  these  met  together  at  the 
missionary  breakfast. 


DYER. 


261 


In  a letter  dated  Singapore,  8th  March,  he  writes — 
“ It  is  now  ten  days  since  we  arrived  here,  having 
touched  at  Penang  and  Malacca,  where  I was  detained 
some  time  in  order  to  settle  the  affairs  of  the  college.” 

At  Singapore,  he  resumed  the  work  of  preparing  the 
type,  and  says,  “If  my  life  is  spared,  and  grace  is  given,  I 
shall  yet  sing  my  song  of  triumph  over  the  China  type 
of  smaller  size.  These  are  just  one  fourth  the  size  of 
the  larger  type,  and  will  condense  our  books  into  one 
fourth  the  size.”  He  was  also  engaged  in  Scripture  trans- 
lations, and  in  preparing  a vocabulary. 

On  the  18th  July,  1843,  he  left  Singapore,  to  meet  a 
convention  of  missionaries  at  Hong  Kong,  to  consult  in 
regard  to  the  translation  of  the  sacred  Scriptures.  He 
left  his  station  and  his  family,  to  return  to  them  no  more  ! 
At  this  convention,  Mr.  Dyer  was  appointed  secretary  of 
the  meeting,  which  imposed  on  him  much  labor.  The 
object  was  to  unite  the  representatives  of  the  various 
evangelical  missionary  societies  in  China  in  the  work  of 
translation.  The  deliberations  on  the  subject  for  many 
successive  days,  by  a large  company  of  missionaries  from 
various  societies,  called  out  many  important  matters  re- 
garding the  work,  but  it  proved  an  impracticable  attempt 
to  unite  so  many  minds  in  the  work  of  producing  one 
translation.  There  was  apparent,  on  the  very  threshold 
of  the  enterprise,  a diversity  of  opinion  in  relation  to 
the  term  to  be  used  for  God,  and  though  the  subject  has 
been  made  one  of  protracted  discussion,  different  minds 
have  only  been  confirmed  in  their  different  views,  and 
different  versions  have  been  made  accordingly.  It  is  one 
among  the  various  instances,  showing  the  impractica- 


262 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


bility  of  translating  the  Bible  by  committees,  and  de- 
ciding important  principles  of  translation  by  a plurality 
of  votes. 

At  the  close  of  the  meetings  at  Hong  Kong,  he  visited 
Canton,  where  he  suffered  a severe  attack  of  fever,  but 
so  far  recovered,  as  to  embark  for  Singapore,  but  while 
the  ship  touched  at  Macao,  the  fever  returned  with  such 
severity,  that  he  was  removed  ashore,  where  he  soon 
slept  in  peace.  His  last  Avords  were,  “Blessed  Jesus! 
sweet  Saviour ! I go  to  be  with  him  who  died  for 
me.” 

His  grave  is  by  the  side  of  that  of  Dr.  Morrison,  in 
the  cemetery  of  Macao.  Thus  the  two,  who  were  united 
in  life  and  labor  for  one  object,  by  a marked  and  mys- 
terious providence  of  God,  found  a resting  place  to- 
gether. 

In  personal  appearance  Mr.  Dyer  was  rather  below 
than  above  the  common  stature.  His  form  was  slender, 
and  in  later  years  inclined  to  stoop.  He  had  a blue  eye 
of  deep  thoughtfulness,  and  the  whole  appearance  of  the 
man  presented  a personification  of  meekness  and  benev- 
olence. The  first  impressions  he  produced  on  the  mind 
of  the  stranger,  were  unpromising,  but  acquaintance 
produced  respect,  which  grew  into  esteem  and  admira- 
tion. His  movements  were  gentle,  his  speech  somewhat 
measured,  and  marked  by  a strong  nasal  intonation.  He 
Avas  humble-minded,  eminently  kind-hearted,  and  de- 
cidedly intellectual.  He  was  a good  man,  and  full  of 
faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 


EVANS.  — FARMER. 


263 


EVANS. 

Rev.  John  Evans  was  sent  bj  the  London  Missionary 
Society  from  England  to  join  one  of  their  Chinese  sta- 
tions; reached  Singapore  1833,  and  soon  after  became 
the  superintendent  of  the  Anglo-Chinese  College  at  Ma- 
lacca, where  he  died  of  cholera,  in  1841. 

He  was  a man  of  generous  intellectual  endowments, 
and  of  commanding  personal  appearance.  Malacca,  the 
field  of  his  labors  and  the  place  of  his  sepulchre,  is  a 
Dutch  colony,  in  the  Straits  of  Malacca,  a few  miles 
north  of  the  equator.  At  a time  when  the  cholera  was 
carrying  off  large  numbers  of  the  native  Malayan  inhab- 
itants, as  well  as  the  Dutch  colonists,  Mr.  Evans  was 
called  to  visit  his  colleague,  the  Rev.  J.  Hughs,  in  his 
last  sufferings  from  the  same  disease,  and  was  numbered 
himself  among  its  victims  a few  hours  after. 


FARMER. 

Rev.  William  Farmer,  of  the  Church  Missionary  So- 
ciety, reached  China  1848,  and  was  stationed  at  Shanghae. 
Failing  health  compelled  him  to  embark  for  England, 
1850  ; but  he  died  at  sea  before  reaching  his  native  land. 

While  at  Shanghae  an  extended  correspondence  was 
carried  on  between  Mr.  Farmer  and  Mr.  Wardner,  on 
the  Sabbath  question — Mr.  W.  being  a Sabbatarian  W e 
are  not  aware  that  either  was  convinced  of  his  error  or 
converted  to  the  faith  of  the  other.  The  one  has  gone 


264 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  his  rest,  and  we  trust  the  other,  at  last,  may  join  him 
in  the  Sabbath  of  heaven. 

It  is  interesting  to  know  that  while  the  Chinese  have 
no  Sabbath  day  of  rest  and  holy  worship,  their  days  of 
mourning  are  measured  off  by  sevens.  They  sometimes 
mourn  for  the  dead  for  a week,  and  after  twenty-one 
days  resume  the  ceremonies. 


FAIRBROTHER. 

Mrs.  Fairbrother,  wife  of  the  Rev.  William  Fair- 
brother,  died  at  Shanghae,  on  the  18th  of  September, 
1845,  after  a residence  of  a few  months  in  the  country. 
For  several  years  she  had  indulged  the  hope  of  carrying 
the  gospel  to  the  heathen,  and  lived  to  reach  her  desti- 
nation, but  died  before  carrying  into  execution  her  work. 
Her  piety  was  unobtrusive  and  sincere,  proved  by  the 
holiness  and  consistency  of  her  life.  Her  husband,  who 
was  a missionary  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  re- 
turned to  England  in  1846. 


FAST. 

Rev.  Carl  J.  Fast,  sent  by  the  Swedish  Missionary 
Society  at  Upsal,  reached  China  1849,  and  was  asso- 
ciated with  Rev.  A.  Elquist,  in  establishing  a mission  at 
Fuh  Chau. 

On  the  evening  of  the  12th  November,  1850,  Rev. 
Messrs.  Fast  and  Elquist,  in  a small  boat  with  three 


FAST. 


265 


rowers,  went  down  the  river  a few  miles  to  the  receiving 
ships,  for  the  purpose  of  exchanging  their  bills.  Funds 
for  the  current  expenses  of  the  missions  in  China,  are 
usually  sent  out  in  bills  payable  in  London,  and  these 
are  exchanged  with  the  merchants  for  coin  current  in  the 
country. 

The  next  morning,  after  visiting  one  vessel  and  while 
passing  to  the  second,  the  boatmen  inquired,  “ Have  you 
got  your  money,  yet?”  This  was  deemed  a strange 
question,  but  replied  to  in  the  negative.  On  leaving  the 
second  vessel,  on  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  inquiry 
was  repeated,  and  answered  in  the  affirmative. 

During  the  stay  of  the  missionaries  on  the  vessel,  the 
boatmen  went  ashore,  and  when  they  were  questioned 
as  to  the  reason,  replied  that  they  went  to  buy  some 
small  articles  they  needed.  The  gentlemen,  however, 
proceeded  in  the  boat  to  return  home.  On  nearing  the 
Kinpai  Pass,  not  more  than  two  or  three  miles  from  the 
vessels,  about  eleven  o’clock  in  the  forenoon,  the  boat- 
men were  observed  to  be  inactive,  and  were  urged  in 
vain  to  row  faster.  Soon  after,  a sail-boat  came  in  sight 
a short  distance  ahead,  apparently  bound  up  the  river. 
The  wind  being  light,  the  row-boat  soon  came  up  with 
the  sail-boat  (it  seems  right  alongside),  when  those  on 
the  latter  instantly  hooked  on,  and  commenced  a fierce 
assault  with  stones  and  spears.  Messrs.  Elquist  and  Fast 
both  seemed  to  feel  that  the  pirates  intended  to  put  them 
to  death,  and  that  they  themselves  must  fight  for  life. 
Mr.  Fast  put  his  head  out  from  under  the  boat  cover, 
and  fired  a pistol.  Mr.  Elquist  rushed  out  to  resist  the 
attack,  and  fired  twice  upon  the  pirates.  He  soon  called 

12 


266 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  Mr.  Fast  to  fire  a pistol  lying  by  bis  side,  but  tbe  lat- 
ter replied  that  he  was  unable.  Soon  after,  be  either 
fell  or  was  thrown  overboard  ; unable  to  swim,  he  sank 
and  was  seen  no  more.  Mr.  Elquist  finding  resistance 
in  vain,  dropped  overboard,  dove  deep,  and  swam  some 
distance  down,  then  swam  ashore.  For  a time  he  waited 
hoping  to  see  something  of  Mr.  Fast ; then,  wounded 
and  weary,  wandered  about  to  find  the  vessel  he  had 
left.  His  fear  of  being  discovered  by  those  on  shore, 
protracted  his  wanderings,  and  it  was  not  till  near  even- 
ing he  reached  the  shore  opposite,  and  was  received  on 
board.  In  the  meantime,  the  pirates,  numbering,  it  is 
said,  about  thirty  or  forty,  took  the  boat,  boatmen  and 
booty,  to  a village  just  below  the  Pass  on  the  north  side. 
They  threatened  the  life  of  Mr.  Elquist’s  servant  boy 
on  board,  in  consequence  of  a severe  injury  one  of  the 
number  had  received,  but  finally  released  him  and  the 
boatmen.  They  all  doubtless  shared  with  the  pirates  in 
the  spoils,  and  it  was  probably  a concerted  plan  between 
them. 

Mr.  Fast’s  body  was  not  seen  afterward.  He  had 
greatly  endeared  himself  to  his  fellow-laborers,  by  his 
kind  and  social  disposition,  and  by  the  simplicity  and 
fervor  of  his  Christian  character.  Eminently  exhibiting 
Christian  love,  out  of  a warm  and  sincere  heart,  he  has 
left  a precious  memory  behind,  in  the  hearts  of  his  asso- 
ciates. 


FRENCH. 


267 


FRENCH. 

Rev.  John  B.  French  was  born  at  Georgetown,  D.  C., 
September  26th,  1822.  His  father,  George  French,  Esq., 
a lawyer  by  profession,  died  in  1834,  leaving  his  son 
John,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  to  the  care  of  his  widow. 
The  parents  both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  his  native  place,  and  the  promised  aid  from  the 
widow’s  God  enabled  the  sorrowing  mother  to  train  up 
her  children  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord. 
In  his  boyhood  John  was  distinguished  for  filial  duty 
and  fraternal  affection,  for  his  love  of  truth  and  fondness 
for  study.  His  young  heart  with  fond  affection  clung  to 
the  enjoyments  of  home,  and  even  when  far  away,  sur- 
rounded by  the  din  and  discords  of  paganism,  his 
thoughts  went  back  in  grateful  memory  to  the  oasis  of 
his  childhood,  as  a temporary  relief  from  his  heathen 
surroundings. 

His  early  education  was  entrusted  to  the  Rev.  James 
McVean,  a native  of  New  York,  then  a classical  teacher 
at  Georgetown.  Under  the  healthful  moral  influence  and 
highly  classical  character  of  such  a tutor,  the  mind  of  the 
pupil  was  happily  moulded,  while  the  judicious  training 
of  a fond  and  faithful  mother  gave  a desirable  finish  to 
his  preliminary  education.  From  this  classical  academy 
he  entered  the  Columbian  College  at  the  capital  of  our 
country,  where  he  graduated  with  honor. 

At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  became  a member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church,  and  then  decided  to  enter  the 
ministry.  He  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Prince- 
ton in  1842,  and  in  1846  he  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 


268 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


gelist  by  the  Presbytery  of  Baltimore.  Thus  were  ful- 
filled the  predictions  of  his  childhood  that  he  should 
become  a preacher. 

His  ordination  sermon  was  preached,  at  his  native 
place,  by  the  Rev.  Robert  Berry,  from  the  words,  “ Unto 
me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace 
given,  that  I should  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  un- 
his  searchable  riches  of  Christ” — an  appropriate  text  for 
apostolic  work. 

The  following  letter  to  his  pastor  may  show  something 
of  his  feelings  in  prospect  of  leaving  his  mother:  “It 
has  been  a source  of  great  comfort  to  me,  and,  I trust 
of  sincere  thanksgiving,  that  she  to  whom  I am  under 
so  many  obligations,  and  whom  I love  better  than  any 
one  else  upon  earth,  is  willing  to  yield  to  my  convictions 
of  duty  on  the  subject  of  personal  consecration  to  the 
heathen.  Previous  to  my  coming  to  a settled  decision 
on  this  subject,  I was  pretty  well  aware  of  mother’s 
views.  I knew  it  would  be  hard,  very  hard,  for  her  to 
consent  to  the  separation  ; but  I knew  also,  that  if  duty 
required  it,  she  would  be  willing  to  submit  to  the  sacri- 
fice. But,  my  brother,  if  it  will  be  hard  for  her , it  will 
be  infinitely  more  so  for  me.  In  her  case,  only  one 
cord  is  severed — in  mine,  a thousand  will  be  torn  asun- 
der.” 

Our  dear  brother  doubtless  expressed  the  honest  senti- 
ments of  his  heart,  but  he  would  not  have  written  this 
after  he  became  a parent.  Again,  it  is  believed  that  the 
experience  of  most  who  have  left  home  for  a foreign 
service,  have  suffered  less  than  the  parents,  or  the  broth- 
ers and  sisters  whom  they  have  left  behind.  There  is  at 


FRENCH. 


269 


first  an  unseen  something  in  the  surroundings  of  his  en- 
terprise, who  goes  abroad,  which  engrosses  his  thoughts, 
and  his  work  occupies  his  hands  and  his  heart;  and  after 
getting  into  the  service  he  loves  it,  and  prefers  his  heathen 
home,  with  all  its  inconveniences,  to  a house  with  all  the 
modern  improvements  in  his  native  land.  Most,  who 
have  spent  }7ears  in  the  East,  on  returning  home,  loDg 
to  get  back  again  to  their  mud  cottage  in  China,  or  their 
bamboo-basket  covering  in  India. 

Our  brother  adds,  in  the  letter  from  which  we  have 
already  quoted,  after  alluding  to  some  severe  conflicts 
with  the  adversary  : 

“ The  only  relief  I could  obtain  was  in  reading  the 
Bible,  and  in  trying  to  pray.  I think  I have  read  more 
of  the  sacred  Scriptures  within  the  last  two  months  than 
in  the  twelve  preceding  months.  If  I know  my  own 
heart,  I do  desire , above  all  things , to  live  for  Christ , and  to 
serve  him  in  the  ministry  of  the  Word.  I have  often  wished 
for  some  one  to  whom  I could  unburden  my  heart,  and 
from  whom  I might  receive  counsel  and  consolation. 
But  this  has  been  denied  me.  Without  pastor  or  friend, 
I have  been  compelled  to  throw  myself  entirely  upon 
God ; and  the  light  of  his  countenance  is  again  shining 
upon  me.  The  history  of  Luther  as  given  by  D’Aubigne 
in  his  history  of  the  Reformation — which  I have  just 
finished  reading — has  encouraged  me  greatly.  It  may  be 
that  God  is  thus  preparing  me  for  some  great  work  before 
me.  Remember  me  always  in  your  prayers.  I wish  very 

much  Mr. might  be  a member  of  the  Presbytery 

when  my  application  for  ordination  is  made.  Love  to  all 


270 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


our  family.  May  you  be  abundantly  blessed  in  your 
person,  family  and  labors,  is  the  earnest  prayer  of 
“Your  unworthy  brother  in  Christ, 

“Jno.  B.  French.”  . 

The  above  letter,  addressed  to  his  pastor,  the  Rev 
Robert  T.  Berry,  Georgetown,  District  of  Columbia,  was 
written  from  Richmond,  Virginia,  where  he  was  then  em 
ployed  in  behalf  of  the  Tract  Society — a service  which 
he  performed  with  great  fidelity  and  acceptance  while 
waiting  the  consummation  of  his  wishes  in  regard  to 
going  to  the  heathen. 

Soon  after  his  ordination,  having  received  an  appoint- 
ment from  the  Presbyterian  Board  to  labor  at  Canton, 
he  set  sail  from  New  York,  July,  1846,  in  company  with 
the  Rev.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Speer,  destined  to  the  same  station. 
After  the  usual  experience  of  a sea  voyage  to  China, 
they  landed  at  Macao,  where  Mrs.  Speer  found  an  early 
grave  by  the  side  of  the  Morrisons,  and  Dyer,  and  others 
of  sainted  memory,  who  sleep  in  the  Macao  cemetery, 
awaiting  the  trump  of  God  to  call  them  higher.  Mr. 
French  proceeded  to  Canton,  where,  away  from  the 
shadow  of  the  American  and  European  flags,  and  on  the 
banks  of  the  river,  and  suirounded  by  the  Chinese  dwell- 
ings, he  procured  a small  China  house,  and.  there  alone 
commenced  his  work  and  worship  among  the  heathen. 
Though  eminently  social  in  his  nature,  and  possessing 
largely  the  refinement  of  heart  and  intellectual  culture 
which  would  fit  him  in  no  ordinary  degree  to  enjoy  and 
contribute  to  the  pleasures  of  home  and  the  enjoyments 
of  society — still,  from  love  to  his  Master  and  in  imitation 


FRENCH. 


271 


of  his  example,  he  cheerfully  sacrificed  all  to  the  good 
of  the  race — and  found  his  pleasures  in  his  pursuits,  and 
his  society  in  the  service  of  his  Saviour  and  the  salvation 
of  men. 

The  writer  having  often  visited  our  brother  in  his  se- 
cluded home,  ever  found  him  cheerful,  active,  and  success- 
fully prosecuting  his  work.  The  broad  river  in  front  was 
ever  covered  with  passing  boats,  with  here  and  there  a 
small  island  rising  out  of  the  waters,  ornamented  with  trees 
and  forts  or  heathen  temples ; the  sides  and  rear  of  his 
little  two-story  dwelling,  which  presented  a front  not  ex- 
ceeding ten  or  twelve  feet  in  width,  was  closely  packed 
in  by  small  Chinese  houses  swarming  with  heathen  life — 
blocked  off  by  narrow,  dark,  and  filthy  foot-paths  as  the 
only  streets  ; presented  but  a dismal  home  for  a man  in 
the  freshness  of  youth  and  refinement  of  feeling.  Still 
here  he  lived  alone,  with  a Chinese  boy  to  bring  him 
water  and  cook  his  rice,  and  a Chinese  teacher  to  aid  him 
in  the  study  of  the  language.  And  he  was  happy  and 
cheerful.  He  had  daily  communings  with  the  pure  above 
though  surrounded  by  pagans  below — and  while  every 
thing  around  him  was  dark  and  filthy,  and  deafening 
discord — within  his  heart  all  was  peace,  and  within  his 
house  all  was  neatness  and  order.  In  sitting  down  to  his 
little  table,  it  was  spread  with  a clean  white  cover — and 
his  dishes,  though  nothing  but  boiled  rice  and  fish  or  an 
egg — were  served  up  in  a manner  that  might  tempt  the 
appetite  of  an  invalid.  He  was  classical  in  his  style,  and 
every  thing  about  his  dress,  his  furniture  and  habits,  dis- 
covered great  simplicity  of  taste,  and  refinement  of  feel- 
ing. In  person  he  was  of  medium  height,  but  of  fragile 


272 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


form,  fair  skin,  light  hair,  a little  near-sighted,  requiring 
the  constant  use  of  glasses,  and  presented  the  general  ap- 
pearance of  a person  ^predisposed  to  pulmonary  disease; 
still  capable  of  great  endurance  and  protracted  toil.  His 
habits  were  industrious,  regular  and  methodical.  His 
judgment  was  sound,  his  investigations  searching,  and 
his  adherence  to  principle  was  unswerving.  His  frail 
form  and  fraternal  heart,  when  nerved  to  defend  the  right 
and  protect  the  injured,  assumed  a majesty  and  resistless 
power.  He  came  to  his  convictions  of  religious  truths 
by  honest  inquiry,  and  was  courteous  and  manly  in  de- 
fending them. 

After  several  years  of  domestic  loneliness,  he  found  a 
worthy  companion  in  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ball, 
to  whom  he  was  married  at  Canton.  She  brought  to  his 
aid,  not  only  a congenial  spirit  and  qualities  to  increase 
his  domestic  happiness,  but  a familiarity  with  the  Chi- 
nese language  which  greatly  assisted  him  in  his  mission- 
ary work.  Together,  they  had  wept  and  prayed,  and 
rejoiced  and  hoped,  as  they  taught  and  toiled  for  the 
salvation  of  the  millions  of  that  pagan  land,  till,  after 
thirteen  years  of  successful  service,  our  brother,  worn  by 
labor,  and  wasted  by  disease,  embarked  with  his  family 
for  his  native  land,  as  the  only  hope  of  preserving  his 
precious  life.  For  a few  days  after  leaving  China  he 
seemed  to  improve,  but  after  passing  Anjer  he  failed, 
and  died  November  30,  1858,  within  three  weeks  of  his 
embarkation,  and  on  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his 
sorrowing  wife. 

On  the  morning  before  his  death,  his  wife,  with  her 
two  little  boys,  gathered  near  his  couch,  and  there,  in 


FRENCH. 


273 


mid  ocean,  far  from  the  land  of  his  toils,  and  still  further 
from  the  home  of  his  youth — away  from  a mother’s  care, 
and  without  a sister’s  sympathy— the  little  family  speak 
together  of  their  mutual  love — their  past  labors — their 
future  prospects — their  friends  in  the  home-land,  and 
their  Father  in  heaven.  The  devoted  wife  inquires,  “Do 
you  think  you  will  recover?”  The  loving  husband  re- 
plies, “ I trust  so.”  “ Are  you  resigned  to  the  will  of 
God  ?”  He  says,  “ Perfectly .”  They  then  prayed  to- 
gether for  the  last,  last  time.  The  wife  says,  “ I then 
repeated  to  him  the  first  four  verses  of  the  fourteenth 
chapter  of  John  and  the  twenty  third  Psalm.  He  said 
they  were  very  refreshing.  I afterward  asked  him  if  he 
had  any  message  for  his  mother  and  sisters.  He  says, 
‘Tell  them  that  I love  them.’  I asked  him  if  Jesus 
was  precious.  He  said,  ‘ Very  precious."1  I shall  never 
forget  how  I sat  there  and  wiped  the  cold  sweat  off  his 
hands  and  face — and  watched  him  die  I” 

This  was  no  common  way  of  celebrating  a birth  day ! 
A young  wife,  on  the  wide  waters  of  the  ocean,  beyond 
the  sight  of  continents  and  islands,  with  two  little  boys 
by  her  side,  wiping  the  death-damp  from  the  brow  of 
their  father,  watching  the  last  breathings  of  her  hus- 
band. He  looks  a last  farewell  to  the  loved  ones,  and 
leaves  them  for  heaven. 

Ho  w long  that  fond  wife  gazed  upon  that  honored  face, 
now  radiant  with  the  smile  of  peace,  we  can  not  tell.  But 
at  length  the  boys,  one  after  the  other,  print  the  last  kiss 
upon  the  lips  which  have  pronounced  for  them  a father’s 
benediction,  and  implored  in  their  behalf  the  blessing  of 
their  father’s  God. 


12* 


274 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


The  wife,  now  widowed,  weak  with  watchings  and 
faint  with  grief,  lifts  her  eyes  to  heaven  for  help,  and 
nerved  with  strength  from  on  high,  rises  to  arrange  the 
toilette  of  the  one  she  loved  most  on  earth,  for  his  rest 
in  the  coral  bed  of  the  ocean. 

The  next  day,  with  the  little  boys  by  her  side,  she 
stands  on  the  deck  to  see  the  enshrouded  form  of  the 
loved  one  lifted  by  the  strong  arm  of  kind-hearted  sail- 
ors, and  then  lowered  into  the  opening  waves,  which  re- 
ceive this  new  treasure  to  their  trust,  till  God  shall  raise 
it  to  life  immortal. 

ISTo  marble  slab  is  reared  there  to  mark  his  resting 
place  or  remind  us  of  his  deeds,  but  his  name  is  engraved 
on  the  hearts  of  his  compeers  in  the  work  of  disenthralling 
the  millions  of  paganism  from  the  woes  of  sin,  and  will  be 
remembered  by  many  redeemed  from  China,  to  join  him 
in  the  songs  of  the  just  made  perfect  in  heaven. 

We  add  the  following  letter  from  our  brother,  dated 
Macao,  20th  April,  1858: 

“My  Dear  Brother:— -On  the  1st  instant,  after  an 
exile  of  seventeen  months,  I turned  my  face  again  to- 
ward the  old  field  of  my  labors,  the  city  of  Canton. 
The  blockade  of  the  river  was  raised  on  the  10th  of 
February,  but  owing  to  the  state  of  my  health,  and  the 
nnfavorableness  of  the  weather,  I was  unable  to  go  up 
to  the  city  at  an  earlier  period.  I left  Macao  at  8 A.  M., 
in  the  American  steamer  Spark,  and  returned  in  the 
same  steamer  on  the  10th  instant,  having  spent  eight 
days  in  Canton.  The  morning  that  I started  the  water 
was  unusually  smooth,  and  a dense  fog  enveloped  us 


FRENCH. 


275 


for  a time.  There  were  some  twenty -five  Chinese  pas- 
sengers on  board,  among  whom  I distributed  Christian 
books,  and  held  conversation  with  most  of  them.  As 
the  steamer  quietly  moved  along,  I had  abundant  oppor- 
tunity for  reflection,  and  many  and  varied  were  the 
thoughts  that  crowded  upon  me.  The  last  trip  I made 
in  the  Spark  was  when  I removed  from  Canton  with  my 
family,  on  the  4th  of  November,  1856.  Six  days  pre- 
vious to  that  time,  on  the  29th  of  October,  our  mission 
premises,  with  every  thing  they  contained,  were  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  occasioned  by  the  attack  of  the  English 
upon  the  city,  on  the  day  they  first  forcibly  entered 
the  city  gates.  It  was  with  a sad  heart  that  I then  took 
leave  of  the  place  where  so  many  years  of  my  mission- 
ary life  had  been  spent.  Our  schools  had  all  been  dis- 
banded, our  hospital  broken  up,  our  chapels  closed, 
our  houses  burned,  and  our  missionary  work  suddenly 
brought  to  a close.  Macao  was  to  be  for  a season  the 
place  of  our  exile.  It  was  under  Roman  Catholic  rule, 
and  we  knew  not  to  what  extent  we  might  be  permitted 
to  labor  amongst  the  fifty  thousand  idolatrous  Chinese 
residing  there.  Cod,  however,  prepared  the  way  before 
us,  and  with  devout  thanksgiving  I desire  to  record  it, 
that  in  no  way  have  our  labors  for  the  good  of  the  Chi- 
nese here  been  interfered  with.  A wide  door  to  the 
access  of  the  people  has  been  opened  to  us  in  the  prov- 
idence of  God,  and  we  have  been  permitted  to  preach 
and  to  distribute  books  without  let  or  hinderance.  Five 
Protestant  chapels  are  statedly  opened  in  Macao  for 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  Chinese.  The  one  connect- 
ed with  our  mission,  situated  on  one  of  the  most  public 


276 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


thoroughfares,  is  daily  thronged  with  persons  who  listen 
attentively  to  the  word  spoken. 

“ About  one  o’clock  we  entered  the  Bogue,  tne  proper 
embouchure  of  the  Canton  river,  and  distant  from  the 
city  about  forty  miles.  The  English  war  steamer,  Sans 
Pared,  a seventy  gun  ship,  was  lying  in  the  passage, 
keeping  solitary  guard.  The  forts  which  formerly  com- 
manded the  entrance  to  the  river,  and  which  mounted 
over  four  hundred  guns,  were  lying,  with  one  exception, 
a mass  of  ruins.  At  four  o’clock  we  were  at  Whampoa, 
the  anchorage  of  merchant  vessels,  some  twelve  miles 
below  Canton.  Quite  a number  of  foreign  ships  were 
lying  at  anchor,  some  discharging  rice,  and  some  loading 
with  it  for  England  and  the  United  States.  The  flags  of 
the  different  foreign  consuls  were  floating  over  their  float- 
ing consulates.  A great  amount  of  foreign  property 
was  destroyed  at  Whampoa  by  the  Chinese,  after  the 
place  was  evacuated  by  the  foreign  community,  and  I 
regretted  to  learn  that  the  foreign  grave-yard  even  had 
not  escaped  desecration.  Some  twenty  have  been  over- 
turned, and  the  slabs  broken.  I made  particular  in- 
quiries in  reference  to  the  extent  of  the  desecration,  and 
have  in  my  possession  the  names  of  all  the  persons 
whose  tombs  have  in  any  way  been  injured.  It  does 
not  appear  that  any  of  the  graves  have  been  opened, 
and  I was  glad  to  find  that  none  of  the  tombs  of  the 
missionaries  have  been  touched. 

“ The  monument  of  the  Hon.  A.  H.  Everett  also  re- 
mains uninjured.  The  elders  of  the  village  near  the 
grave-yard  have  recently  been  called  to  an  account  for 
this  outrage  by  the  foreign  officials.  They  have  prom- 


FRENCH. 


277 


ised  to  have  all  the  graves  repaired,  and  the  slabs  re- 
placed, at  their  own  expense.  The  land,  also,  around 
the  grave-yard  has  been  made  over  in  perpetuitj^,  with- 
out any  charge,  to  the  three  western  powers,  and  will,  I 
trust,  before  long  be  enclosed  with  a wall.  For  many 
years  efforts  have  been  made  to  purchase  the  land  in 
question,  but  without  avail.  The  Chinese  preferred  to 
have  the  whole  control  of  the  ground,  and  have  always 
been  very  exorbitant  in  their  charges,  and  oppressive  in 
their  exactions. 

“ The  passage  up  the  river,  was,  in  many  respects,  a sad 
one.  All  the  scenes  were  familiar  to  me,  and  on  every 
hand  the  ravages  of  war  were  to  be  seen.  The  Barrier 
forts,  the  strongest  the  Chinese  ever  erected,  were  all  in 
ruins.  They  were  destroyed  in  November,  1856,  by  the 
Portsmouth  and  Levant,  American  vessels  of  war,  in 
consequence  of  the  forts  opening  fire,  in  a most  unpro- 
voked manner,  upon  one  of  the  boats  of  the  Portsmouth, 
as  it  was  passing  up  the  river.  Captain  Foote,  of  the 
Portsmouth,  was  himself  in  the  boat,  and  narrowly  es- 
caped with  his  life.  He  was  at  that  very  time  on  his  way 
to  Canton  to  withdraw  the  American  seamen,  who  were 
there  guarding  American  property,  lest  in  any  way  they 
should  be  involved  in  the  existing  hostilities  between 
the  English  and  Chinese.  The  attack  upon  the  boat  was 
made  at  noon-day,  in  full  view  of  the  American  flag,  and 
with  murderous  intent,  the  grape-shot  falling  among  the 
oars  of  the  boat.  When  the  matter  was  laid  before  Yeh, 
the  Governor-General,  he  made  no  apology  for  the  act, 
but  coolly  advised  the  Americans  to  keep  out  of  the  way 
in  future,  if  they  did  not  wish  to  be  fired  upon ! 


278 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


“ After  passing  the  barrier,  we  soon  came  within  sight 
of  the  city.  The  immense  floating  population  (100,000), 
which  has  always  occupied  such  a conspicuous  place  in 
the  river,  has,  in  a great  measure,  disappeared.  Vessels 
of  war,  English  and  French,  are  anchored  within  short 
distances  of  each  other  along  the  whole  city  front.  All 
the  Chinese  fortifications  have  been  razed  to  the  ground, 
and  for  the  distance  of  more  than  two  miles,  all  the 
houses  on  the  city  side  of  the  river,  directly  on  the  river 
bank,  have  been  burned  down.  The  distance  to  which 
the  fire  has  extended  inward  varies  very  much.  In  some 
places,  and  for  about  a mile,  it  has  burned  quite  up  to 
the  wall  of  the  city,  a distance  of  four  or  five  hundred 
yards  from  the  city ; in  other  places,  only  a few  houses 
back  from  the  river  have  been  burned. 

“We  anchored  directly  opposite  the  site  of  the  for- 
eign factories,  the  very  foundations  of  which  have  been 
dug  up,  and  the  stones,  bricks,  and  wooden  piles  carried 
off  and  sold.  It  was  a melancholy  sight,  and  awakened 
many  sad  reflections.  The  ground  around  which  so 
many  pleasant  memories  cluster,  is  now  covered  with 
pools  of  stagnant  water.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the 
river  are  a number  of  foreign  warehouses,  which  are 
rented  from  the  Chinese,  and  have  lately  been  fitted  up 
as  temporary  residences.  They  are  occupied  principally 
by  the  clerks  of  houses  which  are  established  at  Hong 
Kong. 

“ As  I had  no  passport,  I could  not  enter  the  city  till 
the  next  morning,  so  I contented  myself  with  remaining 
quietly  on  board  the  steamer  during  the  night,  and  med- 
itating upon  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  in  Can- 


GODDARD. 


279 


ton  during  the  past  few  years,  and  the  still  greater 
changes  which  are  yet  to  take  place  before  this  people 
become  the  subjects  of  Immanuel’s  kingdom. 

“ Affectionately  yours, 

“John  B.  French.” 


GODDARD. 

Rev.  Josiah  Goddard,  a missionary  of  the  American 
Baptist  Missionary  Union,  was  the  son  of  Rev.  David 
Goddard,  and  born  at  Wendell,  Massachusetts,  October 
27th,  1813.  He  indulged  the  Christian’s  hope  in  1826, 
but  was  not  baptized  till  Ma}r,  1831,  when  he  became  a 
member  of  the  church  of  which  his  father  was  the  pastor. 
He  graduated  at  Brown  University,  in  1835,  and  at  the 
Newton  Theological  Institution  in  1838,  and  was  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  on  the  follow- 
ing September-.  In  December  of  the  same  year,  he 
sailed  for  the  East,  and  landed  at  Singapore,  in  June 
1839,  in  company  with  Mrs.  Goddard,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
and  Mrs  Slafter.  After  a short  stay  on  that  beautiful 
island  of  spices  ( nearly  on  the  equatorial  line),  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Bangkok,  his  destined  station,  where  he  landed 
October  16,  1840.  He  found  in  that  city  a Chinese  popu- 
lation of  more  than  two  hundred  thousand,  to  whose 
Christian  welfare  he  gave  his  unwearied  and  successful 
endeavors.  In  the  year  1842,  he  succeeded  to  the  pas- 
toral care  of  the  first  Chinese  church,  gathered  there 
by  W.  Dean,  who  had  then  removed  to  Hong  Kong. 
The  church  under  his  ministry  was  edified,  and  converts 


280 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


from  the  pagan  Chinese,  were  multiplied  and  added  to 
the  Lord.  While  at  Bangkok,  he  completed  the  transla- 
tion and  printing  of  the  Gospel  of  John,  some  Christian 
tracts,  and  an  English  and  Chinese  Vocabulary.  His 
name  will  there  long  be  held  in  hallowed  memory  by  the 
native  Christians  and  his  successors  in  missionary  work. 
In  1848,  after  a severe  attack  of  bleeding  at  the  lungs 
which  threatened  his  life,  he  so  far  recovered  as  to  be 
able  to  remove  with  his  family  to  Ningpo,  where,  in  a 
cooler  climate,  he  could  carry  forward  his  work  among 
the  Chinese.  There  he  so  far  recovered  his  health  as 
to  be  able  to  labor  with  little  interruption.  He  there 
learned  a new  spoken  dialect  of  the  Chinese  language 
so  as  to  preach  in  it  successfully  to  the  heathen,  there 
he  completed  a translation  of  the  New  Testament,  and 
formed  a Chinese  church  ; and  there,  September  4th,  1854, 
he  closed  a life  of  honored  service  for  his  Master  and 
the  cause  of  missions. 

In  person  he  was  an  exemplification  of  the  adage,  that 
“ valuable  commodities  are  put  up  in  small  parcels.”  He 
was  short  and  thin,  of  pale  complexion,  with  features 
and  movements  marked  by  rectangles  rather  than  by 
curved  lines.  When  seated  in  a common  chair  he  need- 
ed a footstool — but  in  intellect  he  was  a tall  man.  His 
native  endowments  were  superior,  his  education  had  been 
extended  and  thorough,  his  study  of  the  Chinese  lan- 
guage had  been  patient  and  successful,  his  knowledge  of 
the  sacred  languages  and  literature  was  accurate  and  fa- 
miliar, and  he  brought  to  his  work  a large  share  of  com- 
mon sense  and  sound  judgment,  and  a warm  heart  and 
high-toned  Christian  principle.  He  saw  clearly,  he  formed 


GODDARD. 


281 


his  conclusions  maturely,  and  then  adhered  to  them  te- 
naciously. As  a scholar,  he  was  diligent,  thorough  and 
accurate.  As  a preacher,  he  was  methodical,  simple  and 
instructive.  As  a translator,  he  was  laborious,  prayerful 
and  successful.  He  was  a faithful  missionary,  a lovely 
Christian,  a pleasant  companion,  a devoted  husband,  and 
a fond  and  faithful  father.  He  honored  his  God,  and 
his  God  honored  him. 

Letter  from  Eev.  J.  Goddard,  dated  Bangkok,  May 
19,1844: 

“ To-day  Peh  Chun,  the  oldest  member  of  the  church, 
closed  his  earthly  pilgrimage  aged  eighty-six  years.  He 
was  baptized  by  brother  Dean,  December,  1835,  since 
which  time  he  has  walked  in  communion  with  the  church 
and  exhibited  to  a very  cheering  extent  the  fruits  of  re- 
pentance and  regeneration.  While  able  to  get  out  he 
was  regular  in  his  attendance  on  Sabbath  worship,  which 
he  seemed  to  enjoy  very  much,  and  he  was  forward  in 
making  contributions  at  the  monthly  concert.  For  some 
time  he  has  not  been  able  to  get  out,  and  his  mind  has 
been  much  broken  down  by  age.  Still  the  love  of  Jesus 
has  decidedly  characterized  his  declining  days,  and  he 
has  gone,  leaving  a cheering  evidence  of  that  preparation 
which  will  secure  him  a mansion  above.  His  whole  re- 
liance seemed  to  be  on  the  atonement  of  Jesus. 

“ Since  writing  the  above,  yours  of  June  29th  has 
come  to  hand,  presenting  the  resolutions  of  the  Board 
whereby  I am  invited  to  join  the  mission  at  Hong  Kong. 
I have  felt  a constantly  increasing  desire  to  have  a re- 
vised and  approved  version  of  the  Scriptures  brought 
into  use,  from  the  fact  that  the  present  translation  of  the 


282 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Old  Testament  is  scarcely  intelligible,  and  in  the  expla- 
nation of  the  New  Testament  I am  often  obliged  to  say, 
this  verse  is  not  translated  correctly.  On  the  other  hand, 
I have  been  so  situated  as  to  prevent  me  from  making 
as  much  preparation  for  that  work  as  I have  desired. 
Eirect  missionary  work  in  abundance  has  been  provi- 
dentially thrown  upon  my  hands.  I have  sought  to  be 
relieved  from  it  in  order  to  devote  my  attention  more 
exclusively  to  what  I supposed  to  be  my  appropriate 
work,  but  Providence  has  not  opened  the  door  for  such 
relief.  Still  I can  not  complain  or  regret  in  view  of  the 
divine  blessing  which  has  evidently  rested  on  my  ef- 
forts.” 


GODDARD. 

Mes.  Eliza  Ann  Abbott  Goddabd,  widow  of  the 
Rev.  Josiah  Goddard,  died  at  Providence,  R.  I.,  Novem- 
ber 28,  1857.  She  sailed  with  her  husband  from  the 
United  States  in  December,  1838,  and  was  the  sharer  of 
his  labors  among  the  Chinese,  first  at  Bangkok  for  eight . 
years,  and  afterward  at  Ningpo  till  the  close  of  his  life, 
September  4,  1854.  She  never  seemed  to  think  it  ne- 
cessary for  her  to  get  up  a mission  of  her  own,  separate 
from  that  of  her  husband,  but  was  well  content  to  iden- 
tify her  labors  with  his  by  sympathizing  in  all  his  toils 
and  triumphs,  counseling  prudently  in  time  of  difficulty, 
cheering  his  heart  by  making  his  home  happy,  training 
her  children  to  filial  duty  and  Christian  devotion,  speak- 
ing words  of  counsel  and  comfort  to  the  degraded  of  her 


GUTZLAFF. 


283 


sex  around  her,  and  in  all  things  studying  to  aid  the 
missionary  by  staying  his  hands  and  strengthening  his 
heart,  content  herself  if  she  might  magnify  her  high  of- 
fice as  a missionary’s  wife. 


GUTZLAFF. 

Rev.  Charles  Gutzlaff  was  born  at  Pyritz,  in 
Prussia,  1803.  In  early  life  he  was  apprenticed  to  a 
brazier,  and  afterward  studied  theology  in  the  Nether- 
lands, where  he  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry,  and 
sent  out  in  1826,  under  the  patronage  of  the  Netherlands 
Missionary  Society,  with  some  duties  as  chaplain  under 
the  Dutch  government.  On  his  way  to  the  East,  he 
spent  a little  time  in  England,  and  reached  Java  in  1827. 
In  1829  he  left  the  service  of  the  society  and  went  to 
Singapore,  and  afterwards  to  Siam,  where  he  remained 
till  June,  1831,  with  the  exception  of  visits  to  Singapore 
and  Malacca,  when  he  was  married  at  the  latter  place  to 
Miss  Newell,  an  English  lady,  who  soon  died,  and  was 
buried  by  the  side  of  her  infant  child  at  Bangkok,  in 
1831.  During  that  year  he  made  a voyage  to  Tientsin, 
near  Peking,  in  a Chinese  junk,  and  returned  to  Macao. 
February,  1832,  he  embarked  in  the  Lord  Amherst  for 
a voyage  to  the  northern  ports  of  China,  and  in  Oc- 
tober of  the  same  year  reernbarked  in  the  Sylph,  an 
opium  clipper,  for  another  similar  voyage,  from  which 
he  returned  to  Canton,  April,  1833.  He  continued  for 
much  of  the  time  for  the  next  year  in  various  vessels  on 
the  coast,  engaged  in  distributing  Christian  books  and 


284 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


speaking  to  the  people,  and  in  March,  1834,  lie  made  a 
visit  to  Malacca,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  W arnstall, 
an  English  lady,  residing  in  the  family  of  the  Hon.  S. 
Grading,  then  the  Resident  of  Malacca.  In  1835  Mr. 
Gutzlaff  was  appointed  one  of  the  Chinese  secretaries  to 
the  English  commission  in  China,  on  a salary  of  £800 
per  annum.  He  resided  at  Macao  till  the  breaking  out 
of  the  war  with  China  in  1839,  with  the  exception  of  a 
trip  to  Lewchew  and  Japan  in  1837,  and  one  to  Fuhkien 
in  1838.  During  the  war  he  was  employed  in  a variety 
of  ways ; a part  of  the  time  he  was  especially  attached 
to  Sir  Hugh  Gough’s  staff.  He  was  for  some  time  mag- 
istrate at  Chusan  in  1842-3,  and  on  the  decease  of  Hon. 
J.  R.  Morrison,  in  August,  1843,  he  succeeded  to  his  sta- 
tion as  Chinese  secretary  to  the  government  of  Hong 
Kong,  which  post  he  held  till  his  death.  In  April,  1849, 
his  wife  died  at  Singapore,  where  she  had  gone  for  the 
benefit  of  her  health  ; and  in  September  of  the  same 
year  Mr.  Gutzlaff  visited  England,  where  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Gabriel,  an  English  woman,  and  with  her  re- 
turned to  China  in  January,  1851,  and  died  at  Hong 
Kong,  August  9 th  of  the  same  year,  aged  forty-eight. 

Mr.  Gutzlaff  tvas  personally  short,  stout,  gross  in  his 
tastes  and  manners,  active  in  his  movements,  rapid  in 
speech,  and  cheerful  and  engrossing  in  conversation.  He 
was  by  education  a German,  and  had  great  facility  in 
acquiring  the  words  of  a language,  though  not  accurate 
in  idioms,  but  read  and  spoke  several  languages  intelligi- 
bly. His  knowledge  of  the  Chinese  language  in  several 
of  its  dialects,  was  extensive  and  varied.  He  had  made 
a translation  of  the  sacred  Scriptures  into  the  Chinese 


HAIBERG. 


285 


language,  and  Lis  writings  in  Chinese  comprise  a variety 
of  Christian  tracts,  a History  of  the  Jews,  a system  of 
Theology,  History  of  England,  the  Chinese  Magazine, 
etc.,  to  the  number  of  about  seventy  different  treatises 
altogether.  He  also  in  English  published  a History  of 
China  in  two  volumes  octavo,  a Journal  of  his  first  three 
voyages  up  the  coast.  China  Opened,  a Life  of  Kanghi, 
Notes  on  Chinese  Grammar,  and  left  in  MSS.  much  col- 
lected material  for  a Chinese  and  English  Dictionary — 
all  which  prove  him  to  have  been  a man  of  great  indus- 
try and  wonderful  dispatch  in  his  literary  labors  ; but 
in  such  a variety  of  multiplied  productions,  brought 
forth  during  the  hours  of  relaxation  from  the  onerous 
duties  of  a government  appointment,  we  may  not  expect 
great  excellence  in  any  one  of  them. 

The  great  work  of  his  life  was  performed  in  his  official 
duties  for  the  government,  rather  than  in  his  efforts  for 
the  promotion  of  Christian  missions. 


H AMBERG. 

Rev.  Theodore  Hamberg,  a Swede,  was  sent  to 
China  by  the  Evangelical  Missionary  Society  of  Basle, 
in  1847,  and  was  located  at  Hong  Kong.  He  was  in 
person  and  intellect  one  of  nature’s  noblemen,  and  as  a 
Christian,  he  united  the  meekness  of  a child  with  the 
maturity  and  well-developed  strength  of  the  full-grown 
man.  He  discovered  great  musical  taste  and  talent,  and 
in  his  younger  years  was  engaged  with  Jenny  Lind  in 
her  first  efforts  as  a songstress.  As  a missionary,  he  was 


286 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


the  first  European  to  learn  the  Hah-Ka  dialect  of  the 
Chinese  language,  and  gave  his  labors  to  that  people, 
who  occupy  some  of  the  eastern  portions  of  the  Canton 
province,  and  are  numbered  by  millions.*  He  left  a 
MS.  dictionary  in  that  dialect,  and  was  instrumental  in 
giving  religious  instruction  to  many  of  them  in  their  na- 
tive language.  He  died  at  Hong  Kong  in  1854. 


HOBSON. 

Mrs.  Jane  Hobson,  wife  of  Dr.  B.  Hobson,  reached 
China  with  her  husband,  in  1839.  Dr.  Hobson,  in  the 
service  of  the  London  Missionary  Society,  opened  a hos- 
pital, first  at  Macao,  next  at  Hong  Kong,  and  then  at 
Canton.  At  these  several  stations,  thousands  of  Chinese 
have  been  successfully  treated  for  diseases  of  the  body, 
and  many  more,  by  him,  have  been  taught  the  truths  of 
the  gospel  His  evangelical  and  benevolent  labors  have 
largely  taken  the  type  of  his  great  Master’s  ministrations, 
who  cared  for  the  souls  while  he  cured  the  bodies  of 
the  people.  Mrs.  Hobson  sympathized  warmly  in  her 
husband’s  labors,  and  did  much  in  her  quiet,  domestic 
way  to  sustain  him  in  his  toils.  After  years  of  personal 
instruction,  and  Christian  service  among  the  Chinese,  af- 
fording in  her  person  and  family  an  exposition  of  practical 
Christianity  before  the  heathen,  when  disease  had  wasted 
her  strength,  she  left  China  in  company  with  her  hus- 
band, on  the  23d  of  July,  1845,  to  seek  in  her  native 

* Tai-Peng-Wang,  and  the  leading  men  in  the  great  rebellion  of  China, 
arc  men  of  this  dialect,  and  belong  to  this  class  of  the  Chinese. 


INCE. 


287 


land  a restoration  to  health.  After  a voyage  of  nearly 
five  months,  and  a passage  of  seventeen  thousand  miles 
over  the  mighty  deep,  and  when  in  sight  of  the  shores  of 
her  native  land,  her  spirit  was  summoned  to  her  heavenly 
rest.  She  died  December  22d,  1845,  and  her  home  friends 
had  the  mournful  satisfaction  of  welcoming  her  lifeless 
remains  to  a place  in  their  family  tomb.  She  lived  by 
faith,  and  sleeps  in  Jesus. 


INCE. 

Rev.  John  Ince,  one  of  the  first  missionaries  of  the 
London  Society,  stationed  at  Penang,  arrived  at  his  sta- 
tion, with  Mrs.  Ince,  June,  1819.  He  was  devoted  to 
labors  among  the  Chinese  on  the  island,  while  his  col- 
league in  the  mission,  Rev.  Mr.  Beighton,  labored  for 
the  Malays.  Schools  were  established  for  each  of  these 
races,  and  portions  of  the  Scriptures  and  Christian  books 
were  soon  in  circulation  among  them.  In  1822,  Mrs. 
Ince  Avas  called  away  to  join  her  dear  children,  who  had 
preceded  her  to  the  heavenly  world,  and  on  the  24th  of 
April,  1825,  Mr.  Ince  was,  by  an  abscess  of  the  lungs, 
released  from  his  earthly  work,  and  joined  his  departed 
companion  and  children  in  the  home  of  the  redeemed. 
His  field  of  labor,  so  far  as  its  natural  scenery  is  con- 
cerned, is  not  unfitly  called  the  paradise  of  the  East. 

Pulo  Penang,  or  the  island  of  betel-nut,  is  situated 
near  the  west  coast  of  the  Malayan  peninsula,  in  latitude 
5°  north,  and  longitude  100°  east,  and  is  computed  to 
contain  about  one  hundred  and  sixty  square  miles.  In 


288 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


1785,  this  island  was  granted  to  Francis  Liglit,  captain 
of  a country  ship,  by  the  king  of  Quecla,  as  a marriage 
portion  with  his  daughter.  Captain  Light  transferred  it 
to  the  Honorable  East  India  Company,  and  he  was  by 
them  appointed  first  governor  of  the  island.  When 
taken  possession  of,  there  were  but  a few  miserable  fish- 
ermen on  the  sea-coast,  but  the  tombs  interior  gave  evi- 
dence of  its  having  been  before  inhabited.  The  present 
inhabitants  exhibit  a great  diversity  of  races,  including 
British,  Dutch,  Portuguese,  Americans,  Malays,  Arabs, 
Parsees,  Chinese,  Chuliahs,  Burmans,  Siamese,  Javanese, 
etc.  The  population  in  1883  was  about  40,000. 

The  Penang  hills  are  celebrated  as  a retreat  for  invalids, 
where,  at  an  altitude  varying  from  three  hundred  and  fifty 
to  two  thousand  five  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
sea,  they  find  the  temperature  8°  to  10°  below  the  tem- 
perature of  the  valley,  and  enjoy  a fine  sea  breeze,  exceed- 
ingly bracing  and  refreshing  to  the  weary  and  wasted  res- 
idents of  those  tropical  regions.  The  smaller  hills  rising 
gently  above  the  level  of  the  plain,  are  cultivated  with 
spice  trees  of  nutmeg  and  cloves,  which  give  to  the  town 
a lovely  aspect. 

On  this  beautiful  island,  where  only  man  is  vile,  the 
missionaries  have  established  the  worship  of  the  true 
God,  in  English,  Malay  and  Chinese.  The  Chinese,  as 
elsewhere,  have  ever  been  ready  to  receive  tracts  and 
the  sacred  Scriptures,  and  to  read  them,  but  the  Malays, 
being  Mohammedans,  have  been  slow  to  receive  Christian 
instruction ; but  patient  and  persevering  efforts  have 
worn  away,  to  a good  degree,  native  prej  udices,  and  the 
children  of  Malays,  as  well  as  Chinese,  have  been  brought 
into  chapels  of  religious  worship,  and  Christian  schools. 


JAMES. 


289 


JAMES. 

Dr.  Sexton  James  was  the  son  of  I.  E.  James,  Esq., 
of  Philadelphia,  U.  S.  A.  He  pursued  his  classical 
studies  at  Brown  University.  Studied  theology  at  New- 
ton, and  medicine  in  his  native  city.  Mrs.  James  was 
the  daughter  of  J.  Salford,  Esq.,  of  Salem,  Massachusetts, 
and  soon  after  her  marriage  to  Dr.  James,  they  sailed 
for  China  in  the  ship  Valparaiso,  Captain  Lockwood,  in 
November,  1847,  and  landed  at  Hong  Kong  March  25, 
1848.  Their  destination  was  Shanghae  as  missionaries 
of  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention,  and  after  spending 
five  or  six  days  at  Hong  Kong,  visited  Canton,  where 
they  spent  a week,  and  then  embarked  in  the  schooner 
Paradox  for  Hong  Kong.  As  they  entered  the  harbor 
and  in  sight  of  the  town,  Dr.  James  had  just  left  the 
deck  for  the  cabin  where  Mrs.  James  was  preparing  to 
go  ashore,  a sudden  gust  of  wind  struck  the  schooner  and 
she  went  over  on  her  side  immediately,  and  in  a few  sec- 
onds she  went  down,  and  nothing  was  afterwards  seen 
of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  James.  The  other  passengers  and  the 
crew  being  on  deck  were  mercifully  preserved  by  cling- 
ing to  the  mast,  which  projected  a few  feet  above  water, 
and  were  soon  rescued  from  their  perilous  position. 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  gave  large  promise  of  usefulness, 
being  full  of  youthful  hope  and  holy  enthusiasm  for  the 
good  of  the  Chinese,  had  together  made  a voyage  to  the 
heathen  world,  leaving  behind  them  a numerous  circle 
of  loving  parents  and  kindred,  and  then  together  made 
the  voyage  to  the  haven  of  eternal  rest. 

13 


290 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


JARROM. 

Mrs.  W.  Jarrom,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  W.  Jarrom,  of 
the  English  Baptist  mission  at  Ningpo,  came  to  China 
with  her  husband  in  1845.  After  suffering  much,  with 
Christian  fortitude  and  submission,  she  died  at  Ningpo, 
February  26th,  1848.  Seldom  has  it  fallen  to  the  lot  of 
man  to  wkness  a death-bed  scene  affording  a more  de- 
lightful illustration  of  the  Scripture  saying — “ Mark  the 
perfect  man,  and  behold  the  upright,  for  the  end  of  that 
man  is  peace.” — Psalm  xxxvii.  87.  Like  many  a devoted 
woman  whose  record  is  on  high,  she  labored  in  her  quiet 
unostentatious  manner  to  bless  the  race  and  save  the 
heathen — looking  upon  her  degraded  sisters  of  the  East, 
lisping  soipe  words  of  heavenly  faith  and  gospel  charity 
in  their  ears,  and  then  going  home  to  hear  the  high 
testimonial— “ she  hath  done  what  she  could.” 


JENKINS. 

Mrs.  Jenkins,  wife  of  the  Rev.  B.  Jenkins,  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  South,  reached  China  in 
1848,  and  was  stationed  at  Shanghae.  Her  health  soon 
failed,  and  embarking  for  the  United  States,  she  died 
at  sea,  leaving  her  husband  and  family  of  children  to 
mourn  her  loss,  and  proceed  on  their  way  alone.  We 
have  not  the  means  of  presenting  a history  of  Mrs. 
Jenkins’  early  life. 

Dr.  Jenkins  remarried  and  returned  to  his  field  of  labor 
at  Shanghae. 


JENKS. 


291 


JENKS. 

Mrs.  Susan  Baldwin  Jenks,  the  wife  of  Rev.  E.  N., 
Jenks,  and  daughter  of  the  Rev.  Daniel  Baldwin,  was 
born  at  Milford,  Connecticut,  April  1, 1820.  At  the  age 
of  eleven  years  she  became  a member  of  the  Baptist 
church  in  her  native  town,  and  was  distinguished  for  her 
consistent  piety  and  cheerful  performance  of  every  Chris- 
tian duty.  In  her  early  Christian  experience  she  cher- 
ished a warm  desire  to  labor  for  the  perishing  heathen, 
and  in  1846,  in  company  with  her  husband  and  other 
missionary  friends,  she  embarked  at  New  York  on  her 
mission  to  the  Chinese.  They  landed  at  Hong  Kong, 
and  then  proceeded  to  their  station  at  Bangkok.  Here 
Mrs.  Jenks  commenced  with  zeal  and  fond  hope  of  lead- 
ing her  pagan  sisters  to  Christ;  but  in  a short  time  fail- 
ing health  compelled  her  to  retire  from  the  field.  She 
returned  to  China,  via  Singapore,  and  embarked  in  the 
Valparaiso  for  the  United  States,  from  Whampoa,  April 
12,  1848,  and  died  at  sea  June  27,  in  latitude  32°  10', 
south,  longitude  14°  east,  and  her  remains  were  com- 
mitted to  the  deep  the  following  day. 

Among  her  private  papers  was  found  a copy  of  the 
following  lines : 

“ It  matters  not  much  when  the  bloom  has  fled, 

And  the  sensitive  heart  is  cold  and  dead, 

And  the  light  is  gone  from  the  lustrous  eye, 

Where  the  mouldering  ashes  aro  left  to  lie. 

It  matters  not  much,  if  the  soaring  mind 
Like  the  flower’s  perfume  is  exhaled  to  heaven, 

That  its  earthly  shroud  be  left  behind 
To  decay  wherever  a place  is  given.” 


292 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Mrs.  Jenks  was  sensible,  kind  and  ardently  devoted 
to  Christ.  Her  intellect  was  judiciously  cultivated,  rather 
than  highly  accomplished.  She  had  become  an  experi- 
enced and  successful  teacher  before  leaving  her  native 
land,  and  the  loveliness  of  her  character  had  endeared 
her  to  a wide  circle  of  pupils  and  friends.  While  living, 
she  shed  around  her  a serene  and  heavenly  light — and 
still  her  pure  and  pious  example  points  to  the  home  to 
which  she  has  gone. 

Mr.  Jenks  remarried,  and  remains  to  labor  in  this 
country. 


JOHNSON. 

Mrs.  Anna  A.  Stevens  Johnson,  the  wife  of  the 
Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson,  was  born  at  Eastport,  Maine,  April 
18,  1823.  She  was  from  early  childhood  religiously  in- 
clined, and  discovered  great  tenderness  of  heart  and  in- 
telligence of  thought  on  religious  things  in  her  extreme 
youth.  She  possessed  a very  discriminating  intellect — 
a great  sensibility  of  heart,  which  responded  to  the 
slightest  influences — a quickness  of  comprehension — a 
nervous  temperament,  coupled  with  rare  self-possession 
—a  heart  full  of  generous  impulses,  combined  with  good 
sense  and  sound  judgment.  She  received,  to  a good  de- 
gree, her  mental  training  and  Christian  development 
from  the  instructions  of  a successful  teacher,  the  Rev. 
John  B.  Hague,  by  whom  she  was  baptized  in  her 
youth. 

She  was  married  to  the  Rev.  J.  W.  Johnson  May, 


JOHNSON. 


293 


1847 ; sailed  for  China  September  15th,  of  the  same 
year;  landed  at  Hong  Kong  January  5,  1848,  and  died 
five  months  after,  on  the  9th  of  June  following.  Her 
parents  were  amongst  the  oldest  and  most  influential 
members  of  the  Baptist  church  of  Eastport,  where  her 
esteemed  and  honored  father  died  but  a few  days  before 
she  embarked  for  China — hanging  a cloud  of  mourning 
over  her  home  associations ; but  the  rainbow  of  promise 
was  discernible  to  her  eye,  and  the  loving  smile  of  her 
Master’s  face  shed  light  upon  her  pathway,  which  led  to 
her  heathen  home,  and  so  soon  to  her  heavenly  rest. 
Soon  after  landing  in  China,  while  her  husband  was  ab- 
sent on  a visit  to  one  of  the  out  stations,  and  exposed  to 
peril  from  pirates  and  the  treacherous  sea,  and  her  mind 
was  justly  filled  with  some  solicitude  for  his  safety,  ti- 
dings came  to  her  that  Dr.  and  Mrs.  James,  while  com- 
ing from  Canton,  were  upset  and  drowned,  when  in  sight 
of  Hong  Kong. 

The  boat  which  conveyed  her  husband  was  less  in  size, 
and  he,  therefore,  more  exposed,  but  casting  her  eye  and 
her  thoughts  upward,  she  calmly  received  the  tidings,  and 
with  Christian  trust  waited  the  issue.  Her  husband  was 
spared  to  return,  and  has  lived  for  important  service  in 
the  mission  on  earth,  but  she  was  soon  called  to  higher 
engagements  above.  While  living,  she  was  diligent  in 
business,  fervent  in  spirit;  cheerful  in  look,  joyous  in 
language,  giving  life  to  all  within  her  loving  influence; 
but  her  work  was  short,  and  in  the  bright  morning  of 
her  career,  while  she  was  full  of  hope,  and  we  all  were 
made  happy  by  her  society,  she  flew  away  to  her  heavenly 
home. 


294 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


We  will  bless  God  for  the  rays  of  light  which  still  lin- 
ger around  her  hallowed  memory,  while  we  will  pray  for' 
a fitness  to  join  her  again  with  the  Chinese  for  whom 
she  died,  and  for  whom  her  Saviour  lives  to  intercede. 


JOHNSON. 

Mrs.  Hannah  Maria  Johnson,  the  wife  of  the  Rev. 
Stephen  Johnson,  was  the  daughter  of  the  Rev.  John  B. 
Preston,  and  born  at  Rutland,  Vermont,  December  4, 
1808.  She  lost  her  father  in  childhood,  and  was  left  to 
the  care  of  a pious  and  judicious  mother.  Her  two  broth- 
ers have  been  useful  ministers  of  the  gospel,  and  her  two 
sisters  were  wives  to  ministers  of  Christ,  so  that  the  man- 
tle of  their  father  had  fallen  upon  all  his  children  in  a 
peculiar  manner,  and  they  all  have  magnified  their  office 
and  filled  it  with  honor. 

Hannah  Maria,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  mar- 
ried to  the  Rev.  Mr.  Johnson,  an  accepted  missionary  of 
the  American  Board,  May  26,  1833,  and  in  June  follow- 
ing, in  company  with  her  husband  and  the  Rev.  Messrs. 
Robinson,  Lyman,  and  Munson,  and  their  wives,  sailed  for 
the  East.  The  brethren  Munson  and  Lyman  early  fell 
by  the  wicked  hands  of  the  cannibals  of  Sumatra.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  destined  to  labor  in  Siam,  where  he  lived 
many  years  in  successful  service  for  the  Master  and  the 
Siamese,  and  at  length  died  at  sea  on  his  way  to  the 
United  States. 

Mr.  Johnson  was  to  labor  among  the  Chinese  at  Bang- 


JOHNSON. 


295 


kok,  where,  cheered  and  aided  by  his  excellent  wife,  he 
performed  a good  work. 

Mrs.  Johnson,  being  located  at  the  capital  -of  the  king- 
dom of  Siam,  where  even  the  wives  and  children  of  the 
Chinese  used  more  or  less  the  Siamese  language,  learned 
herself  to  speak  it,  as  well  as  to  read  and  speak  the  Chi- 
nese ; and  few  women  have  ever  filled  the  place  of  a mis- 
sionary’s wife,  who  have  in  all  its  relations  better  acted 
their  part.  We  recollect  hearing  one  of  her  associates 
remark  that  “ Mrs.  Johnson  always  said  the  right  thing, 
at  the  right  time,  and  in  the  right  manner.”  ^ 

Naturally  cheerful,  sufficiently  intellectual,  eminently 
spiritual,  and  actively  pious,  and  benevolent  hearted,  she 
was  ever  a welcome  visitor  at  the  homes  of  her  friends 
and  the  houses  of  the  heathen,  and  carried  Sunshine  and 
happiness  wherever  she  went. 

For  many  months  before  leaving  the  mission  field  she 
could  study  and  teach  only  on  her  couch,  where  she 
gave  many  saving  lessons,  and  at  length  by  medical  ad- 
vice she  embarked  for  the  United  States  as  the  only 
means  promising  to  preserve  her  life.  Being  carried  on 
board  ship  she  took  charge  of  little  Howard  and  JSliza 
Jones,  whose  mother  had  fallen  by  the  cholera  at  Bang- 
kok, and  whose  father  printed  on  their  tearful  faces  a 
father’s  fond  kiss,  and  with  an  aching  heart  committed 
them  to  the  kindness  of  his  friends  and  the  care  of  his 
God  for  the  voyage  across  the  deep.  We  recollect  to 
have  witnessed  his  faltering  steps  and  choking  emotions 
as  he  clambered  over  the  side  of  the  ship  after  the  last 
adieu,  having  been  obliged  literally  to  break  away  from 
the  grasp  of  his  little  boy  as  he  clung  to  his  legs,  in  tears, 


296 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


crying,  “Father,  I will  not  let  you  go!”  After  leaving 
Singapore  a leak  in  the  ship  compelled  them  to  put  into 
the  Mauritius,  where  for  two  months  they  were  detained 
on  the  island  of  Harriet  Newell’s  sepulchre.  At  length 
they  reached  Philadelphia  December  6,  1838. 

After  locating  his  family  in  comfortable  quarters  at 
Philadelphia  Mr.  Johnson  was  called  to  Boston,  and 
during  his  absence  the  pure  spirit  of  Mrs.  Johnson  took 
ils  flight  to  the  bosom  of  her  God,  leaving  but  the  lifeless 
form,  lovely  even  in  death,  to  greet  her  agonized  hus- 
band on  his  return.  . Mrs.  Johnson  died  at  Philadelphia 
January  8,  1839,  aged  thirty-one  years,  and  six  years 
from  the  time  of  her  embarkation  in  the  missionary 
work. 

Mrs.  Johnson  was  one  of  those  women  whose  presence 
was  welcomed  by  all  classes,  and  while  the  ungodly  and 
the  heathen  expected  she  would  ever  give  her  love  to 
Christ  a prominent  place  in  all  her  conversation  and  con- 
duct, she  did  it  in  such  a way  as  to  shed  not  a gloom 
but  a charm  around  her. 

We  bless  God  for  the  gift  of  woman,  and  for  the  influ- 
ence of  such  women  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  and  es- 
pecially for  her  agency  in  giving  the  gospel  to  the  Gen- 
tiles. 

The  second  wife  of  Mr.  Johnson  was  the  daughter  of 
Edward  Fowler,  Esq.,  and  was  born  at  Trenton,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  August  8,  1813.  She  was  the  eldest 
of  six  children,  and  in  early  life  gave  evidence  of  piety 
which  was  coupled  with  great  sprightliness  of  disposition 
and  aptitude  to  learn.  Her  mother  died  when  Mary  was 
young,  and  she  was  also  bereft  of  her  sister  Eliza  after 


JOHNSON. 


297 


reaching  the  bloom  of  youth  and  a fitness  for  heaven. 
Mary  was  an  active,  intelligent  Christian,  and  was  in  the 
highest  sense  of  the  term  a missionary  long  before  she 
went  to  Siam. 

In  November,  1840,  she  was  married  to  Mr.  Johnson, 
and  soon  after  embarked  for  the  East.  She  reached  Bang- 
kok May  11,  1841,  and  died  July  1st  of  fever,  supposed 
to  have  been  contracted  at  Java  where  they  called  on 
the  way.  Thus  within  two  months  after  her  arrival  at 
Bangkok  she  ended  her  mission  on  earth  and  went  to 
join  the  Saviour  and  the  sainted  in  heaven.  The  writer 
had  the  mournful  service  of  preaching  her  funeral  ser- 
mon, and  of  leading  the  bereaved  to  the  sympathy  and 
support  of  one  who  had  sustained  him  in  like  circum- 
stances, and  led  him  to  wonder  that  even  God  Almighty 
could  make  a man  so  happy  while  standing  in  a heathen 
land  by  the  grave  which  had  entombed  his  earthly  hope 
and  domestic  happiness. 

After  the  opening  of  the  several  cities  in  China  for 
Christian  effort,  Mr.  Johnson  commenced  a mission  at 
Fuh  Chau,  January,  1846,  where  he  spent  six  years  of 
pious  toil  in  giving  the  gospel  to  the  people  of  that  popu- 
lous city.  During  that  period  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Selmar,  an  accomplished  Swedish  lady,  connected  with 
the  Ningpo  mission,  and  with  whom  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  in  1852. 


13* 


298 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


LOWEIE. 

Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  the  third  son  of  Walter 
and  Amelia  Lowrie,  was  born  in  Butler,  Pennsylvania, 
on  the  18th  of  February,  1819.  His  early  education  was 
superintended  by  his  excellent  mother.  In  the  language 
of  his  honored  father,  “ from  his  infancy  he  possessed  a 
mild  and  cheerful  temper,  was  a general  favorite  with  his 
playmates,  and  was  never  known  to  get  into  an  angry 
dispute  with  his  associates.  To  his  parents  he  was  uni- 
formly obedient  and  free  from  falsehood  and  deception, 
and  to  his  brothers  and  sisters  he  Avas  always  kind  and 
affectionate.”  In  November,  1832,  Walter,  then  not 
fourteen  years  of  age,  entered  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment of  Jefferson  College,  at  Cannonsburg,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  graduated  with  the  highest  honors  in  Sep- 
tember, 1837. 

In  the  winter  of  1834-5  his  attention  was  first  perma- 
nently fixed  upon  the  concerns  of  religion.  He  spent 
the  winter  after  his  graduation  at  his  father’s  house  in 
New  York,  and  in  the  following  spring  entered  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton,  New  Jersey.  Here 
he  spent  the  usual  term  of  three  years. 

In  1840  he  was  received  as  a missionary  of  the  Board 
of  Foreign  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  to  be 
sent  to  Western  Africa,  but  in  1841,  the  Rev.  John  A, 
Mitchel  having  been  removed  by  death,  and  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Orr  and  McBryde  having  been  compelled  by  ill 
health  to  abandon  their  field,  the  China  mission  of  the 
General  Assembly’s  Board  was  left  with  a single  laborer. 
In  these  circumstances,  the  Executive  Committee  imme- 


LOWEIE. 


299 


diately  turned  their  attention  to  Mr.  Lowrie  as  one  pecu- 
liarly fitted,  by  his  thorough  education  and  superior 
talents,  for  the  China  mission.  They  accordingly  pro- 
posed to  him  a change  of  destination,  to  which  he,  after 
much  hesitation,  consented. 

On  the  5th  of  April,  1841,  he  was  licensed  to  preach 
the  gospel,  and  on  the  9th  of  November  following  he 
was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  On  the  19  th  of  January, 
1842,  he  sailed  for  China  in  the  ship  Huntress,  Captain 
Lovett,  and  landed  at  Macao  on  the  27tli  of  May. 

Having  received  instructions  to  proceed  to  Singapore, 
to  assist  in  removing  the  mission  of  the  Board  at  that 
place,  to  some  point  on  the  coast  of  China,  he  left  Macao 
on  the  18th  of  June  in  the  Sea  Queen.  This  proved  to 
be  a tedious  and  trying  voyage.  They  sailed  slowly  for 
many  days  because  the  winds  were  contrary,  and  at 
length  they  were  obliged  to  give  up  the  voyage  and  put 
into  Manilla,  which  they  reached  on  the  23d  of  August 
On  the  18th  of  September  he  again  set  sail  for  Singapore 
in  the  Harmony,  which  on  the  25th  of  October  struck  a 
hidden  rock.  The  crew  and  passengers  took  to  the  boats 
and  abandoned  the  sinking  ship.  Twenty-one  persons 
were  placed  in  the  long  boat,  and  eight  in  the  jolly  boat, 
when  they  were  four  hundred  miles  from  land. 

After  four  days’  sailing,  during  which  they  were  alter- 
nately exposed,  in  their  open  boat,  to  drenching  rain  and 
a tropical  sun,  they  supposed  themselves  to  be  approach- 
ing the  island,  when  the  wind  rose  and  the  sea  ran  so 
high  that  they  were  in  danger  of  being  swamped, 
“Death,”  says  Mr.  Lowrie,  “never  seemed  so  near  be- 
fore, but  my  mind  was  kept  in  peace.” 


300 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


As  night  closed  in,  the  danger  increased,  and  was  the 
more  appalling  to  the  little  company  in  the  long  "boat, 
from  their  proximity  to  the  land,  towards  which  the  gale 
was  rapidly  driving  them.  It  was  a fearful  night ; but 
the  next  morning  the  land  was  in  sight,  and  in  a few 
hours  they  had  escaped  from  their  perilous  position  and 
were  safely  landed  on  the  island  of  Luban. 

Keturning  to  Manilla,  he  abandoned  his  purpose  of 
visiting  Singapore,  and  embarked  on  board  the  Diana  to 
return  to  Macao.  Misfortune  seemed  still  to  follow  him, 
for  this  vessel  was  found  to  be  in  a leaky  condition,  and 
was  with  difficulty  brought  into  port.  He  reached  Hong 
Kong  on  the  17th  of  October.  From  this  time  till  1844 
Mr.  Lowrie  resided  chiefly  at  Macao,  engaged  in  the 
study  of  the  Chinese  language,  preaching  in  English  on 
the  Sabbath  with  great  edification  and  profit,  to  the  Eu- 
ropean residents  of  the  place. 

In  January,  1845,  Mr.  Lowrie  made  a second  attempt 
to  visit  the  northern  ports  of  China,  having  been  driven 
back  on  the  first  voyage,  after  nearly  reaching  Ningpo, 
and  put  into  the  port  of  Amoy,  from  whence  he  returned 
to  Hong  Kong  in  a rudderless  Portuguese  lorcha,  in 
which  he  very  narrowly  escaped  an  involuntary  voyage 
over  the  China  sea,  but  he  finally  reached  Ningpo  on  the 
11th  of  April,  1845.  Here  he  extended  his  study  of  the 
language,  prepared  some  works  for  publication,  and 
commenced  a regular  Chinese  service  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  afforded  great  promise  of  usefulness  in  preaching  to 
the  heathen. 

In  May,  1847,  having  been  elected  one  of  the  delegates 
for  the  revision  of  the  New  Testament,  Mr.  Lowrie  re- 


LOWEIE, 


301 


moved  from  Ningpo  to  Shanghae.  While  there  engaged, 
circumstances  called  him  to  visit  Ningpo,  and  leaving 
Sbanghae  on  Monday,  the  16th  of  August,  1847,  he 
reached  Chapu  on  the  following  day.  He  was  detained 
at  that  place  during  the  whole  of  Wednesday,  the  18th, 
by  a strong  southerly  wind.  From  Shanghae  the  passage 
had  been  made  by  river  and  canal  to  Chapu,  thence  they 
were  to  cross  Hangchau  bay  to  the  mouth  of  the  Ningpo 
river.  On  Thursday,  though  the  winds  were  still  con- 
trary, they  sailed  for  Ningpo,  but  their  progress  was 
slow,  and  after  sailing  several  hours,  a boat  was  descried 
in  the  distance.  It  was  a large  flat-bottomed  boat,  pro- 
pelled by  many  oars,  and  crowded  with  men.  The  fears 
of  the  boatmen  were  excited,  but  Mr.  Lowrie  deemed 
them  groundless.  The  suspicious  boat  drew  nearer  and 
nearer,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  object  of  those  on 
board  became  too  apparent.  Then  Mr.  Lowrie’s  boat- 
men turned  their  boat’s  head  toward  Chapu,  but  it  was 
too  late.  The  pirate  gained  rapidly  upon  them.  Mr. 
Lowrie  seized  his  country’s  flag,  and  waved  it  toward 
the  pursuing  boat,  warning  it  to  keep  off ; but  he  re- 
ceived no  other  answer  than  a discharge  from  their  guns. 
The  pirates  were  immediately  on  board,  and  every  thing 
was  searched  and  rifled,  though  Mr.  Lowrie’s  person  re- 
mained  untouched.  He  took  his  well-worn  Hebrew  and 
English  Bible,  and  in  this  trying  hour,  when  the  possi- 
bility of  the  fate  which  awaited  him  must  have  been 
distinctly  before  his  mind,  looked  for  consolation  where 
he  had  so  often  found  it  before. 

The  work  of  the  piratical  crew  was  nearly  completed, 
when  some  words  of  comfort  addressed  by  Mr.  Lowrie 


302 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  a passenger  who  had  been  robbed  and  beaten,  excited 
their  suspicions.  A consultation  was  immediately  held  as 
to  the  best  mode  of  dispatching  their  victim,  and  though 
some  were  desirous  of  a more  bloody  method,  it  was 
speedily  decided  that  he  should  be  thrown  into  the  sea. 
He  was  seized  by  three  of  the  ruffians.  Resistance  was 
vain ; and  as  he  was  carried  to  the  boat’s  side,  he  threw 
back  his  Bible — a precious  relic  for  surviving  friends — 
and  freed  his  feet  from  the  incumbrance  of  shoes,  his 
presence  of  mind  still  remaining.  His  murderers  looked 
on  with  long  pikes  in  their  hands  to  prevent  the  possi- 
bility of  his  clinging  to  the  boat.  Thus  perished  one 
who  gave  promise  of  as  great  usefulness  as  any  who  ever 
came  to  China,  and  the  name  of  Lowrie  was  enrolled 
among  the  martyr  missionaries. 

In  person,  Mr.  Lowrie  was  tall,  of  light  hair,  and  a 
fair  complexion,  with  a countenance  more  youthful  than 
his  years,  though  he  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty- 
eight.  In  character,  he  was  amiable,  cheerful,  and  con- 
versible ; of  a sound  judgment  and  serious  thoughtful- 
ness, of  great  industry  and  patient  perseverance ; and, 
above  all,  his  sober,  steady,  earnest  piety,  preeminently 
fitted  him  for  a successful  missionary  to  the  heathen. 

His  body  rests  in  its  coral  bed  till  the  sea  shall  give  up 
its  dead,  and  the  ransomed  bodies  of  the  righteous  shall 
be  caught  up  to  meet  Him  who  was  delivered  for  their 
offences,  and  raised  again  for  their  justification. 


LORD. 


303 


LORD. 

Mrs.  Lucy  T.  Lyon,  wife  of  Rev.  E.  C.  Lord,  was 
born  at  Buck! and,  Massachusetts,  February  15,  1817. 
She  removed  with  her  parents  to  Stockton,  Chautauque 
County,  New  York,  where  she  became  a member  of  the 
Baptist  church  in  1833.  She  studied  first  at  Fredonia, 
New  York,  then  at  Shelburn  Falls,  Massachusetts,  and 
graduated  at  Mount  Holyoke  Seminary  in  1810,  where 
she  was  afterwards  employed  as  a teacher  till  her  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Lord,  in  September,  1816.  They  sailed 
for  China  under  the  patronage  of  the  American  Baptist 
Missionary  Union  in  January  following,  and  reached 
their  station  at  Ningpo,  June,  1817. 

She  possessed  the  qualities,  native  and  acquired,  men- 
tal and  spiritual,  which  fitted  her  for  no  ordinary  meas- 
ure of  usefulness  in  a service  that  engaged  her  most 
ardent  affections  and  untiring  zeal.  But  her  physical 
strength  proved  unequal  to  the  demands  made  upon  it, 
and  her  health  was  so  much  impaired  as  to  compel  her  to 
leave  China  in  July,  1851.  She  reached  the  United  States 
at  the  close  of  that  year,  and  lingered  till  May  5,  1853, 
when  she  rested  from  her  toils,  at  her  father’s  house  in 
Fredonia,  New  York.* 

Ningpo,  a city  of  perhaps  half  a million  of  souls,  is 
situated  in  latitude  30°  north,  and  longitude  122°  east, 
at  the  confluence  of  two  rivers,  and  surrounded  by 
an  amphitheater  of  hills,  inclosing  a cultivated  plain 
of  several  miles  in  diameter.  It  was  captured  from 
the  Chinese  by  the  British  troops  in  October,  1841, 

* See  her  Memoir,  published  by  the  Am.  Bapt.  Pub.  Society. 


304 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


and  adopted  as  one  of  the  five  ports  in  China  for  British 
trade. 

It  was  occupied  as  a mission  station  by  Dr.  Macgowan, 
of  the  American  Baptist  Missionary  Union,  in  1842,  and 
subsequently  made  the  field  of  labor  for  the  representa- 
tives of  the  American  Presbyterian  Board,  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  of  England,  the  English  General  Bap- 
tist Society,  and  the  Society  for  the  Promotion  of  Female 
Education  in  the  East. 

Here  the  devoted  Goddard  completed  his  translation 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  here  he  rested  after  his  work 
on  earth  was  done. 


LLOYD. 

Rev.  John  Lloyd,  was  born  in  Huntingdon  County, 
Pennsylvania,  October  1st.,  1813.  The  first  fifteen  years 
of  his  life,  were  spent  at  home,  where  he  received  a strict 
religious  training,  and  as  good  an  education  as  the  dis- 
trict school  afforded.  From  his  sixteenth  to  his  twenty- 
first  year,  he  acted  as  clerk  in  several  mercantile  estab- 
lishments and  improved  all  bis  leisure  hours  in  acquiring 
knowledge,  reading  with  avidity  such  books  as  came  in 
his  way,  especially  those  of  a historical  character.  The 
pursuits  of  trade  were  not  however  congenial  to  his  mind 
and  he  longed  to  go  through  a course  of  study.  He 
commenced  his  classical  studies  at  Jefferson  College,  Can- 
onsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  the  spring  of  1834,  under  the 
presidency  of  Rev.  M.  Brown,  D.  D.  In  the  second  ses- 


LLOYD. 


305 


sion  of  his  collegiate  course  there  was  a powerful  revival 
of  religion  at  the  institution,  during  which  he  became 
a subject  of  renewing  grace.  He  made  a public  profess- 
ion of  religion  in  March,  1835.  He  has  often  spoken  of 
a favorite  place  of  prayer  by  the  side  of  a fallen  tree  in 
a field  where  he  retired  for  communion  with  God,  and 
where  he  enjoyed  many  precious  seasons  of  prayer.  Be- 
tween forty  and  fifty  persons  made  a profession  of  their 
faith  in  Christ  at  that  time,  and  among  the  number  was 
the  Rev.  Walter  M.  Lowrie,  a missionary  to  China  who 
was  drowned  by  pirates  near  Ningpo,  in  1847,  and  with 
whom  Mr.  Lloyd  formed  a most  cordial  intimacy  which 
continued  through  life. 

In  September  1839,  Mr.  Lloyd  took  his  degree  of  A.  B. 
at  Jefferson  College,  and  the  next  year  commenced  his 
studies  for  the  ministry  with  a private  gentleman.  The 
degree  of  A.  M.  was  conferred  on  him  at  the  commence- 
ment in  1843.  In  1841  he  entered  the  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  and  in  1844  was  licensed 
to  preach  the  Gospel  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York; 
and  in  June  22nd  of  the  same  37ear  sailed  in  the  ship 
“ Cahota,”  as  a missionary  to  China,  and  landed  at  Ma- 
cao, October  22nd. 

Meeting  there  Messrs  Lowrie,  Hepburn  and  Cole  of 
the  same  Mission  it  was  determined,  after  consultation, 
that  Mr.  Lloyd  and  Dr.  Hepburn  should  proceed  to  Amoy, 
where  they  lauded  December  6th,  1844.  His  course 
from  that  day  to  his  death  was  one  of  earnest  devotion 
of  his  time  and  energies  to  the  acquisition  of  that  diffi- 
cult language  ; and  when  he  had  nearly  reached  the  goal 
and  was  becoming  fluent  in  speaking,  it  pleased  the  Mas- 


306 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ter  to  take  him  to  himself ; thus  teaching  us  that  how- 
ever well  qualified  we  may  be  to  carry  forward  the  Lord’s 
work,  he  can  get  along  without  us,  and  find  other  agents 
to  accomplish  his  purposes.  As  a friend,  Mr.  Lloyd  was 
uniformly  kind  in  his  affections,  faithful  in  his  friend- 
ships, firmty  conscientious  in  relation  to  his  duty,  and 
stable  in  his  personal  religion.  He  was  humble,  cheerful, 
methodical,  persevering,  and  laboriously  devoted  to  the 
salvation  of  souls,  and  a man  in  whose  heart  grace  reign- 
ed. He  was  permitted  to  bear  public  testimony  in  favor 
of  Christ  among  the  Chinese,  as  by  applying  himself 
almost  exclusively  to  the  spoken  language  he  was  able 
to  communicate  religious  truth  freely  to  the  people,  with 
whom  he  was  universally  popular.  Had  he  lived  longer 
we  had  much  to  hope  from  his  future  labors. 

The  funeral  services  were  attended  by  a large  concourse 
of  natives,  and  an  address  in  Chinese  was  delivered  to 
them  by  Mr.  Young,  a missionary  of  the  London  Society. 
The  crew  of  the  American  ship  Carthage  acted  as  bearers, 
and  the  flags  were  hung  at  half  mast,  on  the  day  of  his 
death. 

Journal  of  Rev.  John  Lloyd,  September,  1847.  Leav- 
ing Amoy  in  company  with  Messrs.  Abeel,  Lowrie  and 
others,  he  entered  a boat  to  visit  the  large  city  of  Chiang- 
chiu,  some  forty  miles  westward  from  Amoy.  On  their 
way  back  Mr.  Lloyd  says  : 

“ By  the  time  we  reached  Hai-Teng  the  tide  set  against 
us,  and  with  a head  wind  we  cast  anchor  and  went  ashore. 
As  soon  as  we  landed  we  entered  a large  gateway  and 
mounted  the  wall.  We  wandered  through  the  streets 
followed  by  a curious  crowd  till  we  came  to  a temple. 


LLOYD. 


307 


In  that  temple  several  women  were  engaged  in  worship- 
ing idols  when  we  entered.  Numerous  candles  were 
burning  before  the  shrine,  all  lighted  up  by  these  female 
votaries.  When  we  drew  near  all  retired  to  one  side  of 
the  room,  except  one  old  woman.  She  took  her  position 
in  front  of  the  shrine*  laid  the  palms  of  her  hands  togeth- 
er, and  gently  moving  them  up  and  down,  inclined  her 
body  forward  and  at  the  same  time  began  to  mutter  her 
prayers.  After  some  time  she  knelt  down  before  the 
idol  and  bowed  low  to  the  ground.  When  she  arose  an 
air  of  great  self-complacency  and  satisfaction  was  mani- 
fested in  her  aged  and  wrinkled  features.  Approaching 
us  she  laid  her  hand  on  one  of  our  shoulders  and  began 
to  magnify  the  merits  of  the  deeds  which  she  had  been 
performing.  Mr.  Pohlman  seized  the  opportunity  of 
communicating  some  truth  to  her  and  the  surrounding 
companj'.  Some  listened  attentively,  others  had  too 
much  ungratified  curiosity  to  admit  of  their  being  quiet. 
One  of  these,  when  Mr.  P.  was  earnestly  exhorting  them 
to  turn  and  worship  the  true  God,  inquired  of  him  the 
cost  of  his  jacket,  not  for  the  purpose  of  making  sport, 
but  out  of  pure  ignorance  of  that  propriety  which  the  oc- 
casion demanded. 

Before  the  shrine  and  in  the  very  presence  of  the  im- 
age was  a band  of  gamblers  engaged  at  a game  of  cards, 
to  one  of  whom,  a Budhist  priest,  Mr.  P.  administered  a 
severe  rebuke.  The  priest  hung  his  head  but  continued 
the  game. 

In  the  crowds  that  followed  us  two  men  were  pointed 
out  as  criminals,  banished  from  distant  provinces  to  this 
place.  Some  Chinese  characters  declaiming  their  crimes 


308 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


were  tattooed  on  the  side  of  their  faces — one  for  robbery, 
the  other  for  incendiarism — but  no  blush  of  shame  man- 
tled their  cheeks  while  we  were  examining  the  declara- 
tion of  their  crimes  indelibly  written  on  their  faces. 

About  three  P.M.  the  tide  favored  and  we  started  for 
Amoy,  and  at  eight  o’clock  landed  at  home. 


MAESHMAN. 

William  Carey,  the  cobbler,  William  Ward,  the 
printer,  and  Joshua  Marshman,  the  weaver’s  son,  are 
names  identified  with  the  origin  and  history  of  the  Seram- 
pore  mission,  and  their  graves  are  side  by  side  in  the 
cemetery  of  that  station. 

Joshua  Marshman  was  born  at  Westbury  Leigh,  in 
Wiltshire,  on  the  20th  of  April,  1768.  His  family  traced 
its  descent  from  an  officer  in  the  parliamentary  army, 
who  retired  into  private  life  in  Wiltshire,  after  Charles 
II.  disbanded  that  body,  in  1660.  John  Marshman, 
the  father  of  the  Serampore  missionary,  at  the  age  of 
twelve  years  was  apprenticed  to  a weaver.  He  after- 
wards married  Mary  Couzener,  a descendant  of  one  of  the 
French  refugees  who  obtained  shelter  in  England  on  the 
revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Hantes.  She  was  a woman 
of  great  piety  and  exemplary  benevolence,  and  she  and 
her  husband,  both  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  lived 
together  in  conjugal  happiness  and  Christian  virtue  for 
more  than  half  a century.  It  was  in  these  favorable  re- 
ligious associations  that  Joshua  Marshman  was  trained  up. 


MARSHMAN. 


309 


At  the  age  of  seven  years  he  was  sent  to  the  vil- 
lage school,  kept  by  one  Coggeshall,  and  he  remained 
there  till  he  had  exhausted  its  resources — though  he  left 
with  a bare  knowledge  of  reading.  At  the  age  of  seven 
he  heard  his  father  repeat  the  narrative  of  David  and 
Goliah,  which  riveted  his  attention,  and  appears  to  have 
created  in  bis  mind  tbe  first  desire  for  reading,  and  he 
gave  himself  no  rest  till  he  had  read  through  all  the  his- 
torical portions  of  the  Old  Testament.  Soon  after,  at 
the  town  fair,  he  met  with  a brief  history  of  England 
and  read  it  through  before  he  left  the  stall.  His  thirst 
for  reading  increased,  and  he  thought  little  of  walking 
a dozen  miles  for  the  loan  of  a book. 

By  the  time  he  was  twelve  years  old,  he  had  read 
through  more  than  a hundred  volumes. 

A few  days  before  his  death  he  diverted  himself  by 
noting  down  from  memory  the  books  he  had  read  before 
he  was  fifteen,  as  well  as  the  names  of  the  friends  from 
whom  he  had  borrowed  them.  A glance  at  this  list  will 
show  the  astonishing  activity  of  his  miud,  and  the  very 
miscellaneous  knowledge  with  which  it  was  stocked. 
On  the  list  are  recorded,  Fables  of  Pilpay ; Voltaire’s 
Candidus ; Travels  of  a Philosopher  in  Cochin  China ; 
Robin  Hood’s  Garland;  Josephus  in  twenty  quarto  num- 
bers ; Salmon’s  Geography ; The  Chinese  Traveler ; a 
work  on  astronomy;  Wonders  of  Nature  and  Art;  Nat- 
ural History  of  Serpents ; Conversations  of  Eusebius ; 
History  of  the  Puritans ; History  of  England ; Hudibras  ; 
Cynthia  ; Don  Quixote  ; Robinson  Crusoe  ; Milton’s  Para- 
dise Lost ; Tooke’s  Pantheon,  etc.  The  number  of  works 
he  had  thus  devoured  before  he  was  eighteen,  amounted 


310 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  more  than  five  hundred.  He  was  enabled  to  avoid  the 
evils,  and  to  retain  the  advantages,  of  this  miscellaneous 
course  of  reading,  by  a wonderful  memory,  which  en- 
abled him  at  any  time  to  call  up  the  facts  connected  with 
any  series  of  events  ever  lodged  in  his  mind. 

At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  so  attracted  the  attention  of 
a bookseller  visiting  the  village  that  he  invited  him  to 
return  with  him  to  London,  with  the  view  of  provid- 
ing for  him  in  his  own  trade ; but  after  a few  months  in 
London,  his  father  recalled  him  to  his  native  village, 
where  he  was  again  engaged  in  the  loom  and  his  dessul- 
to.ry  reading — devouring  every  book  which  fell  in  his 
way. 

In  the  year  1791  he  was  married  to  Hannah  Shepherd, 
the  granddaughter  of  Eev.  John  Clark,  for  sixty  years 
pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  at  Crockerton,  in  Wilt- 
shire. This  happy  union  continued  for  forty-six  years, 
during  which  Mrs.  Marshman  proved  herself  every 
way  worthy  of  her  important  relations  and  responsible 
duties. 

Mr.  Marshman  was  from  childhood  ever  moral  and 
exemplary,  and  while  in  his  native  village,  he  was,  ac- 
cording to  his  own  statement,  led  to  a careful  examina- 
tion of  the  Scriptures,  and  as  the  fight  of  divine  truth 
shone  into  his  mind,  he  was  enabled  to  place  his  entire 
dependence  for  acceptance  with  God,  on  the  all-meritori- 
ous atonement  of  Christ ; but  it  was  not  till  his  removal 
to  Bristol,  in  1794,  that  he  was  baptized  and  became  a 
member  of  the  church  at  Broadmead,  Bristol.  He  was 
also  permitted  to  join  the  classes  at  the  academy,  and  for 
five  years  gave  himself  with  his  usual  diligence  and  sue- 


M ARSHM  AN. 


311 


cess  to  the  study  of  the  classics,  to  which  he  added  He- 
brew and  Syriac. 

Mr.  Grant,  his  friend  and  pupil,  and  of  whose  conver- 
sion from  a state  of  infidelity  he  had  been  the  humble 
instrument,  having  offered  his  services  to  the  Missionary 
Society,  Mr.  Marshman  resolved  to  accompany  him  to 
India.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  three  weeks  after  he 
had  resolved  to  go,  he  was  sailing  down  the  Channel, 
then  at  the  age  of  thirty-two. 

On  the  3d  of  May,  1799,  he  was  set  apart  to  the  work 
at  Bristol,  and  on  the  25th  of  the  same  month,  after  a 
parting  address  from  Abraham  Booth,  he  sailed  from 
London  in  the  American  ship,  Criterion,  Captain  Wickes 
of  Providence,  R.  I.  This  good  presbyterian  captain  re- 
joiced to  take  as  passengers,  missionaries  to  the  heathen, 
whom  the  East  India  Company  would  not  allow  to  go  in 
their  ships. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marshman  had  as  fellow-passengers  in 
the  ship,  and  fellow-laborers  in  the  missionary  work, 
Messrs.  Ward,  Brunsdon,  and  Grant. 

They  arrived  at  Calcutta  on  the  12th  of  October,  and 
on  the  13th  proceeded  to  Serampore,  a beautiful  town  on 
the  west  banks  of  the  Hoogly,  about  fifteen  or  twenty 
miles  above  Calcutta.  This  was  a Danish  settlement,  and 
contained  about  fifty  English  houses,  and  was  inhabited 
by  Danes,  English,  Scotch,  Germans,  Greeks,  Armenians, 
Irish,  Portuguese,  and  Bengalees.  Soon  after  their  arri- 
val here,  Mr.  Grant  was  taken  ill,  and  on  the  31st  of  the 
same  month,  was  laid  in  his  grave.  Mr.  Marshman  ob- 
serves, regarding  this  event,  “ The  Lord’s  dealings  strike 
me  with  amazement.  That  he  who  was  so  earnest  in  the 


312 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


missionary  cause,  should  thus  be  taken  off,  before  he  had 
the  least  opportunity  of  doing  any  thing  for  that  cause, 
appears  mysterious.  That  the  Lord  should  make  use  of 
him  to  stir  me  up,  and  loosen  me  from  those  many  con- 
nections in  which  I seemed  so  firmly  fixed,  and  that  I 
should,  after  seeking  to  God  with  many  tears,  be  deter- 
mined to  go  immediately,  not  waiting  as  I had  before  re- 
solved, till  he  had  gone  to  India  first,  and  sent  me  an 
account  how  matters  stood,  in  which  case  my  coming  at 
all  might  have  been  prevented — I say,  that  he  should 
have  been  raised  up  for  this  purpose,  and  then  be  taken 
to  glory,  is  to  me  quite  astonishing.” 

In  the  early  part  of  1800  they  organized  themselves 
into  a church,  choosing  Carey  as  pastor,  and  Marshman 
one  of  the  deacons^  The  next  month — May — they  be- 
gan to  print  the  first  sheets  of  the  New  Testament, 
and  formed  themselves  into  a common  domestic  circle, 
having  a common  table,  and  Carey  gave  his  time  to 
translations,  Ward  to  the  printing,  and  Marshman  to  the 
school. 

About  this  time,  the  little  fraternity  was  made  joyful 
by  the  indications  of  piety  in  Felix  and  William  Carey, 
the  one  fifteen  and  the  other  thirteen  years  old. 

In  August  the  little  circle  of  friends  were  filled  with 
sorrow  by  the  sudden  death  of  one  of  their  number,  Mr. 
Fountain.  He  was  thirty -three  years  of  age ; had  just 
acquired  the  language  so  as  to  be  useful ; he  had  a taste 
for  poetry,  and  was  the  leader  of  their  singing,  and  his 
various  qualifications  gave  promise  of  eminent  useful- 
ness. His  death-bed  was  quite  on  the  verge  of  heaven. 


MARSH  MAN. 


313 


He  dictated  Lis  own  epitaph:  “John  Fountain,  mis- 
sionary to  the  Indies,  aged  thirty-three.  A sinner  saved, 
by  grace.” 

Another  painful  dispensation,  hut  of  a different  kind, 
occurred  in  December  following',  when  Mr.  John  Thomas 
fell  into  a state  of  temporary  insanity.  This  man,  in 
the  order  of  time,  was,  in  fact,  the  first  missionary  to 
India.  He  had  been  educated  for  the  medical  profession, 
which  he  practiced  for  some  years  in  London,  but  in 
1783,  he  went  to  Bengal  as  surgeon  in  one  of  the  East 
India  Company’s  ships.  In  1785,  he  returned  to  London, 
joined  Dr.  Sten nett’s  church,  and  became  a preacher. 

In  1786,  he  again  returned  to  Bengal,  and  was  sup- 
ported by  a few  pious  friends,  while  he  acquired  the  lan- 
guage, and  aimed  to  instruct  the  natives.  After  two  or 
three  years  he  returned  to  England  to  seek  for  help  that 
might  enable  him  to  devote  the  rest  of  his  life  to  the 
work  of  the  mission  in  India.  At  this  time  "William 
Carey  learned  that  he  was  raising  funds,  and  seeking 
some  one  to  go  out  with  him  as  a missionary.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  society,  composed  of  Fuller  and  his  asso- 
ciates, in  January,  1793,  it  was  agreed  to  invite  Mr. 
Thomas  to  go  out  under  the  patronage  of  the  society,  en- 
gaging to  furnish  him  with  a colleague,  provided  a suit- 
able one  could  be  obtained,  and  when  brother  Carey  was 
asked  if  he  would  go  with  him,  he  readily  answered  in 
the  affirmative.  That  very  evening,  while  they  were  in 
full  deliberation  at  Kettering,  Mr.  Thomas’  arrival  was 
announced,  when  he  aud  Carey  fell  on  each  other’s  necks 
and  wept.  It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Fuller  made  the 
remark  that  “ there  was  a gold  mine  in  India,  but  it  seemed 

14 


314 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


almost  as  deep  as  the  center  of  the  earth.  Who  will  ven- 
ture to  explore  it  ?"  I will  go  down''  said  Carey,  “ but 
remember , that  you  must  hold  the  ropes."  They  sailed 
June  13th,  1793,  and  landed  at  Calcutta  in  November 
following. 

This  Mr.  Thomas  discovered  great  zeal  in  his  work, 
but  this  mental  derangement  marred,  and  soon  termi- 
nated an  otherwise  bright  and  blessed  career.  He  struck 
the  first  spark  of  that  missionary  fire  that  was  kindled 
in  Bengal,  which  is  destined  to  consume  its  idolatrous 
superstitions,  and  shed  the  light  of  heaven  upon  the  dark 
abode  of  millions.  He  died  at  Dinagepore,  October  13th, 
1801.  . 

But  returning  to  Mr.  Marshman,  we  find  him  engaged, 
in  addition  to  the  care  of  the  school,  in  conversation  with 
Hindus,  Mussulmen,  and  others,  about  the  new  way , and 
in'' preaching  the  Gospel  from  door  to  door,  and  in  tbe 
market-places.  The  following  is  briefly  his  own  account 
of  his  method : 

“ In  going  from  place  to  place,  it  is  our  custom  to  carry 
papers  or  books  in  our  hands,  ready  for  distribution  to 
those  I meet ; and  then  we  begin  perhaps  thus  : ‘ Friend, 
can  you  read?  No.  Have  you  any  body  in  your 
family  who  can  ? No.  Can  any  one  in  your  village 
read?  Yes,  Then  give  him  this  paper,  and  let  him 
read  it  to  you.  It  tells  you  of  the  way  of  salvation ; 
how  your  sins  can  be  forgiven,  and  how  you  can  be 
happy  after  death.’  The  poor  fellow  receives  it  with  as- 
tonishment' and  sometimes  trembling  with  fear,  lest  it 
should  be  a trap  which  /Sahib  has  laid  to  bring  him  into 
trouble.” 


MABSHMAN. 


315 


This  afternoon  I overtook  a countryman,  with  whom 
the  following  conversation  passed  : 

“Where  are  you  going?  Home.  Where  is  your 
home  ? Manpore  about  two  koss  onward.  Have  you 
a goo-roo  ? Yes.  Where  does  he  live  ? At  — 7 — about 
ten  koss  from  Manpore.  How  often  does  he  visit  3 ou  ? 
Once  a year.  What  does  he  do  for  you  then  ? He 
whispers  a muntra  in  my  ear.  What  good  will  you  get 
from  your  muntra  ? It  will  be  well  for  me  after  death 
by  repeating  it.  Do  you  understand  it  ? Ho.  How  can 
you  receive  any  good  from  your  muntra,  if  you  do  not 
understand  it  ? Do  you  give  your  goo-roo  any  money 
when  he  comes  ? Yes.  How  much — ten  rupees  ? Ho, 
sahib,  one  rupee  and  a quarter.  If  you  were  to  give 
him  nothing  what  then?  He  would  be  angry  and  come 
no  more.  Do  not  you  see  then  th'at  he  comes  for  your 
money?  He  cares  nothing  about  your  welfare.  He  is 
like  a fisherman,  the  muntra  is  the  net  and  you  are  the 
fish.  If  I were  you  I would  give  him  no  more.” 

The  three  senior  missionaries,  Carey,  Ward,  and 
Marshman,  by  the  divine  blessing  on  their  efforts  were 
able  not  only  to  support  themselves  and  their  families 
but  also  to  expend  large  sums  in  the  promotion  of  the 
Gospel  around  them.  So  strictly  had  they  acted  on  the 
generous  principles  laid  down  by  them  at  the  formation 
of  their  family  union  in  1799,  that  though  their  receipts 
had  far  exceeded  in  amount  the  contributions  for  the 
Missions,  sent  from  England,  still  neither  they  nor  their 
families  derived  pecuniary  advantage  from  this  income. 
All  was  devoted  to  the  cause  which  they  felt  to  be  dear 
to  them  as  life  itself 


316 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


This  led  to  a separation  in  March,  1827,  and  a course 
of  missionary  labor  for  a number  of  years,  by  these 
brethren  at  Serampore,  independent  of  the  Society  who 
sent  them  to  India. 

The  cause  of  the  separation  is  stated  to  be  the  refusal 
of  their  missionaries  to  render  an  account  of  the  disburse- 
ment of  funds  contributed  to  aid  them  in  their  work. 

The  great  work  of  Marshman  was  the  acquisition  of 
the  Chinese  language  and  the  translation  of  the  Bible 
into  that  tongue.  His  Glavis  Sinica  proves  the  author  to 
have  acquired  a philosophical  knowledge  of  the  language 
but  his  translation  of  the  Scriptures  shows  the  necessity 
of  living  among  the  people  where  it  is  daily  spoken  in 
its  purity  to  give  an  idiomatic  translation  of  the  Word 
of  God,  which  shall  be  faithful  and  at  the  same  time  in- 
telligible. 

In  1853,  we  found  large  numbers  of  his  Chinese  Scrip- 
tures at  the  college  buildings  at  Serampore,  affording 
proof  of  the  great  industry  and  learning  of  the  transla- 
tor, rather  than  giving  all  the  practical  benefit  to  the 
heathen  which  was  so  devoutly  attempted.  It  much  re- 
sembles the  version  of  Dr.  Morrison,  and  like  that  is  un- 
idiomatic  and  largely  unintelligible.  A copy  of  Dr. 
Marshman’s  version  was  presented  to  the  Bible  Society 
in  May,  1823. 

Dr.  Marshman  was  a man  of  diversified  talent;  pos- 
sessing great  mental  energy,  persevering  diligence,  firm- 
ness bordering  on  obstinacy,  tact,  caution  and  policy 
controlled  by  principle.  He  was  a natural  linguist,  and 
learned  in  oriental  literature,  and  his  wonderful  tenacity 
of  memory  gave  him  great  facilities  in  learning  the 


MARS  HM AN . 


317 


Chinese  language.  He  was  perhaps  too  fond  of  rule,  but 
was  influenced  by  an  all-pervading  solicitude  for  the  sal- 
vation of  the  heathen,  and  was  worthy  to  form  one  of 
the  illustrious  trio — 'Carey,  Marshman,  and  Ward.  He 
died  at  Serampore,  December  7th,  1837,  having  been 
thirty-eight  years  a missionary,  in  the  seventieth  year  of 
his  age. 

His  daughter  married  the  late  illustrious  Sir  Henry 
Havelock,  and  his  son,  John  C.  Marshman,  long  and 
favorably  known  as  the  editor  of  the  Friend  of  India, 
has  recently  published  a valuable  work  in  two  volumes, 
giving  the  life  and  times  of  Carey,  Marshman,  and 
Ward. 

His  writings  may  be  received  as  giving  reliable  infor- 
mation on  matters  in  India.  We  are  largely  indebted  to 
him  for  the  sketch  given  above  of  his  venerated  father. 

Of  twelve  children  born  to  Dr.  Marshman  only  six 
survived  infancy.  The  eldest  son  is  named  above,  the 
second  and  third  were  lawyers ; the  eldest  daughter  was 
married  to  Mr.  Williams,  of  the  Bengal  civil  service; 
the  second  to  Dr.  Voigt,  the  medical  officer  at  Serampore; 
the  youngest  is  Lady  Havelock. 

Dr.  Marshman,  in  stature,  was  about  five  feet  and  nine 
inches,  possessing  an  iron  constitution,  and  a countenance 
singularly  expressive  of  high  intellect  and  stern  deci- 
sion. 

During  his  life  he  had  given  thirty  thousand  pounds  to 
the  mission  and  died  a poor  man,  just  before  the  news 
reached  India  that  the  Serampore  mission  had  been 
transferred  to  the  society.  Thus  he  was  saved  the  pain 
of  learning  what  he  did  not  approve,  and  while  Dr. 


318 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Mars'!) man  and  the  Serampore  mission  died  together, 
their  influence  for  good  will  live  for  ever. 


MRS.  MAESHMM. 

Mrs.  Marshman,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Marshman, 
was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Shepherd,  and  grand-daughter 
of  the  Rev.  John  Clark,  a Baptist  minister  of  Crockerton, 
Wiltshire,  where  he  preached  his  last  sermon  in  1803. 
and  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  his  age. 

Mrs.  Marshman  was  a woman  of  piety,  good  sense  and 
noble  disinterestedness,  and  was  every  way  fitted  to  be  an 
associate  in  the  great  work  to  which  her  husband  had  de- 
voted his  life.  She  was  married  to  Dr.  Marshman,  1791, 
and  sailed  with  him  to  India  in  1799,  and  in  October  of 
the  same  year  landed  at  Calcutta,  and  found  a home  at 
Serampore,  a Danish  settlement  on  the  west  banks  of  the 
Hooghly,  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  miles  above  Calcutta. 

Here  Mrs.  Marshman  was  enlisted  in  the  female  de- 
partment of  the  school,  which  was  not  only  self-support- 
ing but  made  to  contribute  annually  several  thousand 
rupees  for  the  support  of  the  Serampore  mission.  Mrs. 
Marshman  lived  in  India  more  than  forty-seven  years, 
and  thirty-five  of  them  were  sacredly  consecrated  to  the 
school,  while  her  influence  in  other  respects  was  made 
to  contribute  largely  to  the  interests  of  the  mission. 

We  recollect  to  have  met  this  much  respected  lady  in 
Singapore  soon  after  landing  in  the  East.  She  was  then 
enjoying  comfortable  health,  and  presented  a personation 
of  mature  Christian  character  bearing  the  ripe  fruits  of 


IEDHUEST. 


319 


long  years  of  culture  and  the  divine  favor.  She  died  at 
Serampore,  March  1,  1847,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty 
years.  She  was  the  last  survivor  of  those  who  assisted 
at  the  formation  of  the  mission  forty-seven  years  before, 
and  beside  her  influence,  the  sum  she  was  enabled  to 
contribute  personally  to  its  support,  fell  little  short  of  the 
contributions  of  her  husband.  She  fully  participated  in 
all  his  plans  of  benevolence,  and  her  sound  judgment, 
her  unruffled  temper,  and  peculiar  amiability  of  disposi- 
tion secured  for  her  the  esteem  and  confidence  of  all. 


MEDHURST. 

Rev.  Walter  H.  Medhurst  was  sent  to  the  East  by- 
the  London  Missionary  Society  in  1817.  He  was  sta- 
tioned first  at  Malacca,  then  for  several  years  labored 
successfully  among  the  Chinese  at  Batavia,  on  the  island 
of  Java,  and  at  length  on  the  opening  of  the  ports  of 
China  removed  to  Shanghae,  where  he  had  ample  scope 
for  all  his  powers  of  usefulness.  He  was  then  the  senior 
missionary  in  the  field,  and  had  perhaps  a more  familiar 
acquaintance  with  the  Chinese  character,  and  a more  ex- 
tended knowledge  of  the  language  than  any  of  his  asso- 
ciates. There  might  have  been  others  who  brought  to  the 
mission  field  a more  logical  mind  and  more  finished  edu- 
cation, but  none  have  since  enjoyed  greater  facilities  or 
better  improved  them  in  learning  the  language  and  liter- 
ature of  the  people  for  whose  welfare  he  labored.  His 
manly  form  and  dignified  manner  and  command  of  words 


320 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


made  him  an  effective  public  speaker,  whether  in  English 
or  Chinese. 

He  was  naturally  of  a humorous  temperament,  and  the 
facility  with  which  he  could  turn  a word  into  a witticism 
may  have  cost  him  some  efforts  at  times  to  maintain  his 
dignity  in  social  intercourse.  There  may  also  have  been 
something  in  his  manner  which  in  the  eye  of  a stranger 
might  border  on  severity,  while  his  words  and  ways  were 
prompted  by  a generous  and  kind  heart. 

He  was  a little  near  sighted,  and  in  the  habit  of  wear- 
ing glasses,  to  cover  a searching  eye,  already  somewhat 
concealed  by  the  overhanging  eyebrow.  In  person,  he 
was  of  large  stature  and  symmetrical  proportions,  and 
for  about  forty  years  in  India  had  enjoyed  almost  uni- 
form health.  He  had  visited  England  during  the  time 
for  objects  connected  with  his  mission,  but  not,  as  we 
suppose,  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  till  the  last  voyage 
home  in  1856,  where  his  life  ended  soon  after  reaching  his 
native  shores.  He  died,  January  24,  1857,  aged  sixty 
years. 

Aside  from  his  preaching,  Dr.  Medhurst  had  done 
much  by  his  pen  and  the  press  for  the  promotion  of  the 
great  work  of  missions.  He  had  prepared  and  printed  a 
dictionary,  in  one  large  quarto  volume,  of  the  Hok-keen 
dialect,  containing  about  twelve  thousand  characters.  The 
printing  of  this  was  commenced  in  1831,  and  completed 
in  1835,  and  is  of  great  value  in  studying  that  particular 
dialect,  since  it  gives  not  only  the  reading  sound  of  the 
character,  but  also  the  colloquial  idioms.  The  people 
speaking  this  dialect  occupy  a region  north  east  from  the  - 
Canton  province,  called  the  Hok-keen  province,  having 


MED  QUEST. 


321 


for  its  capital  the  city  of  Fuh-chau,  on  the  Min  river  in- 
terior, and  the  city  of  Amoy  on  the  sea  coast.  The  pop- 
ulation of  the  province  is  about  fifteen  millions,  who  speak 
in  a manner  unintelligible  to  their  neighbors  in  other 
provinces,  and  read  the  same  character  in  their  written 
language  with  a different  sound  from  that  which  they 
use  in  expressing  the  same  thought  in  conversation. 
Thus,  while  the  Chinese  language  to  all  the  people  in  the 
empire,  and  others  in  Cochin  China  and  elsewhere,  pres- 
sents  to  the  eye  the  same  idea,  yet  to  the  ear,  whether  in 
reading  or  speaking,  the  different  provinces  are  unintel- 
ligible to  each  other. 

In  1843,  Dr.  Medhurst  published  his  Chinese  and 
English  Dictionary,  in  two  volumes,  containing  fifteen 
hundred  octavo  pages.  This  is  prepared  for  the  general 
student,  and  the  sound  of  the  characters  conformed  to 
the  pronunciation  of  the  court  dialect,  which  sustains 
a relation  to  the  provincial  dialects  analogous  to  that 
of  the  Latin  language  to  the  southern  dialects  of  Eu- 
rope. Learned  men  and  officials  in  China  are  supposed 
to  understand  the  mandarin  or  court  dialect,  in  which 
all  official  business  is  conducted  throughout  the  several 
provinces. 

Dr.  Medhurst,  in  1833,  got  possession  of  a comparative 
vocabulary  of  Chinese,  Corean,  and  Japanese,  published 
by  the  Coreans,  from  which  he  prepared  and  printed  a 
Corean  and  Chinese  vocabulary.  The  same  author  pub- 
lished in  1830,  a Japanese  and  English  vocabulary,  in 
two  parts,  of  three  hundred  and  forty-four  octavo  pages. 
The  author  had  never  been  in  Japan,  and  of  course  the 
work  must  be  imperfect,  but  as  a beginning  it  doubtless 


322 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


will  prove  of  great  worth  to  the  learner  of  that  language, 
of  which  it  is  hoped  there  may  be  many,  since  the  coun- 
try is  now  opened.  While  we  regard  some  things  re- 
cently published  regarding  the  Japanese  character,  and 
their  customs  and  country,  as  romantic,  still  there  is 
enough  of  sober  and  well-sustained  fact  to  challenge  the 
devout  gratitude  and  the  benevolent  endeavors  of  the 
Christian. 

Dr.  Medhurst  published  a version  of  the  blew  Tes- 
tament and  several  valuable  Christian  tracts.  He  left 
Batavia  for  England,  April  6,  1836,  and  on  the  day 
before  his  embarkation,  and  nineteen  years  after  he 
came  to  the  East,  he  baptized  the  first  Chinese  convert 
from  Java. 

After  reaching  England  he  published  a book,  en- 
titled “ China — its  State  and  Prospects.”  He  also  has 
written  much  on  the  term  in  Chinese  for  the  Deity. 
He  advocated  the  term  Shangti  for  Cod,  since  it  was  the 
highest  object  of  worship  of  which  the  Chinese  had  any 
conception.  Dr  Boone,  who  led  in  the  discussion  on  the 
other  side  of  the  question,  advocated  the  use  of  Shin  as 
the  proper  term — since  it  was  by  the  Chinese  applied  to 
all  the  objects  of  their  worship.  He  maintained  that  as 
the  Greeks  used  Theos,  as  applicable  to  all  objects  of  wor- 
ship, great  or  small,  true  or  false,  so  in  Chinese  we  need- 
ed a generic  term  alike  applicable  to  all,  and  that  to  use 
Shangti  in  Chinese  would  be  like  using  Jupiter  in  Greek, 
as  applied  to  Deity. 

This  discussion  awakened  the  sympathies  of  all  the 
missionary  fraternity  in  China,  and  called  forth  contri- 
butions from  many  on  both  sides  of  the  question — a 


MEDHURST. 


323 


question  on  which  there  still  remains  a difference  of 
opinion  among  the  best  informed,  and  different  versions 
of  the  sacred  Scriptures  employ  different  terms  to  des- 
ignate the  Supreme  Being.  There  is  also  a diversity  of 
usage  in  the  translation  of  other  terms  in  the  Bible, 
which  waits  for  future  disclosures  of  increasing  light 
and  love  to  harmonize. 

Among  the  versions  of  the  New  Testament  in  Chinese 
might  be  mentioned  Morrison’s,  Marshman’s,  Medhurst’s, 
Gntzlaff’s,  Goddard’s,  Dean’s,  and  versions  of  joint  com- 
mittees, composed,  one  of  the  missionaries  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  another  composed  of  members  from 
the  American  Board,  the  American  Episcopal,  the  Amer- 
ican Presbyterian,  in  which  were  as  leading  members, 
Dr.  Bridgman,  Bishop  Boone,  the  lamented  Lowrie,  and 
others. 

Morrison,  Marsh  man,  Medhurst  and  Gutzlaff,  each  in- 
dividually, and  some  of  the  brethren  in  committee;  have 
given  a version  of  the  entire  Scriptures,  both  of  the 
Old  and  New  Testament.  Goddard  prepared  a version 
of  the  New  Testament,  and  portions  of  the  Old.  In  all 
these  there  is  an  approximation  to  accuracy — still,  all  are 
more  or  less  subject  to  improvement  and  may  give  place 
to  a more  acceptable  version  in  future. 


MILTON . 

Rev.  Samuel  Milton,  a representative  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  was  sent  out  in  1813,  and  stationed 
at  Singapore.  He  retired  from  the  service  in  1825,  and 


324 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


died  at  Singapore  in  1849.  He  was  a man  of  great  learn- 
ing, and  apparently  of  great  piety,  but  the  last  years  of 
bis  life  were  embittered  by  some  signs  of  mental  derange- 
ment, or  marked  eccentricity,  which  rendered  him  an 
object  of  sympathy,  while  he  still  retained  some  elements 
of  character  which  secured  to  him  feelings  of  veneration 
and  esteem.  As  long  ago  as  1835  he  might  have  been 
seen  in  the  cool  of  the  day  on  the  Singapore  beach  with 
staff  in  hand  leading  about  his  little  boy,  of  some  seven 
or  eight  years,  whom  he  had  taught  to  read  intelligibly 
the  Hebrew  Bible.  It  has  been  intimated  that  in  the  ear- 
ly years  of  his  missionary  career  he  had  entertained  some 
rather  extravagant  plans  of  missionary  policy,  but  from 
all  the  writer  ever  saw  in  him  he  was  entitled  to  the  re- 
putation of  a sincere  and  honest  Christian,  with  pure  de- 
signs for  doing  good  to  the  heathen. 


MILNE. 

Rev.  William  Milne  was  born  in  Aberdeenshire,  in 
Scotland,  in  1785.  His  father  died  when  he  was  six 
years  old,  and  his  mother  gave  him  such  education  as 
was  common  to  boys  in  humble  life.  Soon  after  his  fa- 
ther died  he  was  put  under  the  guardianship  of  a rela- 
tion who  neglected  his  morals  till  he  became  notoriously 
wicked.  His  own  account  of  this  portion  of  his  life  is 
as  follows : 

“The  natural  depravity  of  my  heart  began  to  show- 
itself  by  leading  me  to  the  commission  of  such  sins  as 


MILNE. 


325 


my  age  and  circumstances  admitted.  In  profane  swear- 
ing and  other  sins  of  a like  nature  I far  exceeded  most 
of  my  equals  and  became  vile  even  to  a proverb.  I can 
remember  the  time  (0  Grod ! I desire  to  do  it  with  shame 
and  sorrow  of  heart)  when  I thought  that  to  invent  new 
oaths  would  reflect  honor  on  my  character  and  make  me 
like  the  great  ones  of  the  earth.” 

Though  he  had  been  the  subject  of  occasional  serious 
impressions  it  was  not  till  the  age  of  sixteen  that  he  knew 
the  love  of  Jesus  as  the  saviour  of  sinners.  At  that  age, 
when  he  thought  to  drink  his  fill  of  iniquity,  the  Lord, 
having  better  things  in  store  for  him,  removed  him  to 
another  place  where  he  enjoyed  the  influence  of  pious 
friends  and  social  prayer.  Still  here  he  found  those  lit- 
tle trials  which  contributed  to  that  decision  which  was  so 
characteristic  of  him.  He  says,  “ As  the  family  where  I 
lived  were  strangers  to  religion  themselves  and  derided 
those  who  made  it  their  concern,  I was  very  disagreeably 
situated.  My  only  place  of  quiet  and  unnoticed  retire- 
ment was  a sheep-cote  where  the  sheep  are  kept  in  win- 
ter. Here  surrounded  by  my  fleecy  companions  I often 
bowed  the  knee  on  a piece  of  turf  carried  in  by  me  for 
the  purpose.  Many  hours  have  I spent  there  in  the  win- 
ter evenings  with  a pleasure  to  which  I was  before  a 
stranger,  and  while  some  of  the  family  were  plotting  to 
put  me  to  shame,  I was  eating  in  secret  bread  which 
the  world  knoweth  not  of.” 

While  watching  his  flock,  he  had  much  time  for  read- 
ing, to  which  he  was  much  attached.  A book  of  mar- 
tyrs, entitled  “ The  Cloud  of  Witnesses,”  contributed  to 
the  formation  of  some  traits  of  his  character.  Boston’s 


326 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Fourfold  State  led  him  to  a better  acquaintance  with 
himself,  and  after  much  distress  of  mind,  he  obtained 
such  views  of  the  free  grace  of  the  gospel  that  his  whole 
heart  was  captivated.  “ Having, ” said  he,  “an  earnest 
desire  to  devote  myself  to  God,  I was  encouraged  to  do 
so  by  a personal  covenant.  Retiring  to  a place  sur- 
rounded by  hills,  I professed  to  choose  the  Lord  as  my 
God,  Father,  Saviour,  and  everlasting  portion,  and  of- 
fered up  myself  to  his  service,  to  be  ruled,  sanctified  and 
saved  by  him.”  This  was  followed  by  much  happiness 
and  peace  of  mind,  with  earnest  desires  to  be  holy,  with 
a determination  to  cast  in  his  lot  among  the  despised  fol- 
lowers of  the  Lamb,  and  a concern  for  the  salvation  of 
others.  Two  years  after,  he  renewed  the  covenant,  wrote 
it  down,  and  subscribed  with  his  hand  unto  the  Lord. 

The  next  year  he  was  received  as  a member  of  the 
congregational  church  at  Huntly,  with  the  following 
record  of  his  feelings  at  the  time : “ What  a wonder  am 
I to  myself!  Surely  the  Lord  hath  magnified  his  grace 
to  me  above  any  of  the  fallen  race.” 

From  this  period,  till  his  embarkation  for  China,  he 
was  not  idle  in  his  Master’s  service.  Long  before  he  en- 
tered upon  the  work  of  his  life,  he  felt  so  much  interest 
in  the  coming  of  Christ’s  kingdom  among  the  nations, 
that  he  used  to  spend  hours  in  prayer  for  this  object,  re- 
garding it  as  a common  Christian  duty,  and  not  a feeling 
peculiar  to  missionaries.  It  was  not  till  he  was  about 
twenty  years  of  age  that  he  personally  consecrated  him- 
self to  the  missionary  work,  and  then  many  obstacles 
opposed  his  wishes.  However,  after  spending  five  years 
in  making  provision  for  the  support  of  his  widowed 


MILNE. 


327 


mother  and  sisters,  he  saw  this  object  accomplished. 
“ Should  I leave  my  mother  and  sisters  in  want,”  said 
he,  “ the  missionary  cause  will  suffer  reproach.” 

Respecting  his  first  application  to  the  committee,  for 
acceptance  for  the  work,  there  is  an  authentic  anecdote 
told,  too  characteristic  of  his  spirit  to  be  suppressed. 
When  he  first  came  before  them  in  his  rustic  garb,  his 
appearance  was  so  unpromising  that  one  of  the  commit- 
tee said,  he  could  not  recommend  him  as  a missionary, 
but  would  not  object  to  recommend  him  as  a servant  to 
some  mission,  provided  he  were  willing  to  go  in  that  ca- 
pacity. When  this  proposition  was  made  to  Milne,  and 
he  questioned  upon  it,  he  immediately  replied  with  most 
animated  countenance, Yes,  sir,  most  certainly  ; I shall 
be  glad  to  become  a hewer  of  wood,  or  a drawer  of 
water,  so  that  I am  in  the  work.” 

The  committee  accepted  him,  and  directed  him  to  Gos- 
port, where  he  went  through  a regular  course  of  study, 
under  the  Rev.  David  Bogue.  “ I began,”  says  he,  “ with 
scarcely  any  hope  of  success ; but  resolved  that  failure 
should  not  be  for  want  of  application."  How  well  he 
kept  his  resolution  may  be  seen  in  his  subsequent  labors, 
as  well  as  from  the  following  extract  from  his  journal, 
written  eight  or  ten  years  afterwards,  November  26th, 
1820.  “ The  university  of  Glasgow  conferred  on  me, 

without  fee  or  solicitation,  the  honorary  degree  of  Doctor 
of  Divinity.  This  distinction  is  in  one  respect  like  my 
daily  mercies — unmerited.  May  I be  the  humbler  and 
more  useful  for  it,  and  never  act  unworthy  of  the  honor.” 

In  July,  1812,  at  the  close  of  his  studies,  he  was  or- 
dained to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  dedicated  to  the 


238 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


service  of  Christ  among  the  heathen.  He  was  soon  after 
married  to  Miss  Cowie,  daughter  of  Charles  Cowie,  Esq., 
of  Aberdeen.  Mrs.  Milne  is  described  as  an  eminently 
pious,  and  prudent,  and  meek-tempered  woman.  They 
were  much  attached  to  each  other,  and  she  continued  to 
contribute  largely  to  his  happiness  and  usefulness  till  her 
death,  in  1819. 

About  a month  after  his  ordination,  they  embarked  at 
Portsmouth,  and  having  touched  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope  and  the  Isle  of  France,  they  were  welcomed  at 
Macao  by  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Morrison,  on  the  4th  of  July, 
1813. 

After  a few  days’  residence  there  he  was  ordered  by 
the  Portuguese  Governor  to  leave  Macao  in  twenty -four 
hours.  He  accordingly  proceeded  to  Canton,  leaving  his 
family  under  the  roof  of  Dr.  Morrison.  At  Canton  he 
gave  himself  to  the  study  of  the  language,  and  that  un- 
der somewhat  more  favorable  circumstances  than  his  pre- 
decessor had  done.  Still  his  task  was  not  an  easy  nor 
short  one.  “ I had  an  idea,”  said  he,  “ that  the  language 
was  very  difficult,  an  idea  which  I have  never  yet  seen 
occasion  to  change.  I felt  convinced  that  a person  of 
humble  talents,  would  need  great  diligence,  undivided 
attention,  and  unyielding  perseverance  to  gain  a knowl- 
edge of  it,  sufficient  to  make  himself  serviceable  to  the 
cause  of  Christianity.”  Accordingly,  he  devoted  to  this 
his  strength,  his  time,  and  his  heart.  From  morning  till 
night  he  plodded  over  the  characters,  gaining  little  help 
from  a native  teacher,  till  Dr.  Morrison  came  from  Macao 
to  Canton.  His  studies  were  now  better  directed,  his  pro- 
gress more  rapid,  and  his  knowledge  more  accurate.  He 


MILNE. 


329 


kept  Lis  native  teacher  by  him  all  the  day  and  applied  to 
him  on  all  occasions,  nor  was  it  long  before  he  was  re- 
quired to  use  his  knowledge  of  the  language.  The  trans- 
lation of  the  Chinese  New  Testament,  made  by  Dr.  Mor- 
rison, together  with  some  thousand  copies  of  a tract,  were 
put  into  his  hands  for  circulation.  Having  no  home  at 
Macao,  nor  permanent  residence  at  Canton,  after  six 
months’  study  of  the  language,  he  departed  to  visit  Java 
and  the  Chinese  settlements  in  the  Archipelago,  and 
there  to  distribute  the  books.  At  that  time  we  had  not 
the  toleration  for  preaching  and  distributing  books  in 
China  which  is  now  enjoyed.  After  visiting  the  towns 
and  villages  of  Java,  and  some  other  islands  where  Chi- 
nese resided,  distributing  books  from  house  to  house,  Dr. 
Milne,  at  the  end  of  eight  months,  returned  to  China. 

The  winter  of  1814  he  spent  in  Canton,  in  the  study 
of  the  language,  with  the  same  ardor  as  at  the  first. 

He  opened  his  rooms,  also,  for  public  worship  on  the 
Sabbath  to  the  foreign  residents  and  seamen.  Desiring  a 
place  where  they  might  safely  publish  Christian  books, 
and  carry  on  the  work  of  the  mission  more  openly  than 
it  could  be  at  Canton,  Dr.  Milne  was  selected  to  locate  a 
mission  among  the  Chinese  at  Malacca,  where  he  and  his 
wife  entered  upon  their  labors  in  the  spring  of  1815. 
There  were  there  Dutch  residents,  by  whom  he  was 
kindly  received,  and  to  whom  he  preached  one  sermon 
on  each  Sabbath  during  his  stay  among  them. 

One  of  his  first  efforts  was  to  establish  a Chinese  free 
school.  The  Chinese  had  never  heard  of  such  a thing', 
and  they  could  not  for  a long  time  believe  that  their 
children  were  to  be  taught  and  furnished  with  books 


330 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


gratuitously , bat  suspected  that  some  selfish  or  sinis- 
ter motive  would  leak  out.  They  could  not  compre- 
hend the  idea  of  doing  and  expending  so  much  merely 
for  the  sake  of  doing  good  to  others.  Thus  many  kept 
back  their  children  for  the  first  year,  and  the  school 
opened  with  five  scholars.  By  the  most  cautious  meas- 
ures they  induced  the  use  of  Christian  books,  and  pre- 
vailed on  the  pupils  and  teachers  to  attend  Christian 
worship.  In  1820,  Dr.  Milne  says,  “ connected  with  the 
mission  are  thirteen  schools,  in  all  containing  about  three 
hundred  children  and  youth.” 

Another  work  in  which  he  engaged  was  the  publica- 
tion of  a periodical  called  the  Chinese  Monthly  Maga- 
zine. This  was  continued  till  his  death,  and  thousands 
of  copies  were  yearly  circulated  among  the  Chinese  in 
the  Archipelago,  in  Siam,  Cochin  China,  as  well  as  in  the 
Chinese  empire.  Two  years  after  he  began  an  English 
Quarterly,  entitled  the  Indo-Chinese  Gleaner. 

His  opinion  of  the  value  of  such  periodicals  is  worthy 
of  notice.  He  says : “ in  the  intellectual  wastes  which 
missionaries  generally  inhabit,  thought  becomes  torpid, 
mental  energy  languishes,  and  the  ordinary  range  of 
vision  becomes  narrow.  If  a publication  combines  reli- 
gion and  philosophy,  literature  and  history,  there  is 
something  to  inform  the  understanding,  to  rouse  the  dor- 
mant feelings — something  to  awaken  caution,  to  encour- 
age languishing  hope,  something  to  excite  benevolent 
sympathies,  something  to  draw  out  benevolent  prayer  to 
God — cordial  thanks  for  his  blessings,  a clear  zeal  in  his 
cause,  and  ardent  love  to  all  men.” 

The  last  three  or  four  years  of  his  life  were  much  de- 


MILNE. 


381 


voted  to  the  “ Anglo-Chinese  College.”  The  corner 
stone  was  laid  at  Malacca,  Nov.  11,  1818,  and  in  1820  it 
was  so  far  advanced,  that  a class  was  formed  and  instruc- 
tion given.  This  school  originated  by  a donation  of  one 
thousand  pounds  sterling  from  his  predecessor,  but  the 
charge  of  erecting  the  buildings,  and  the  details  of  its 
organization,  devolved  on  Dr.  Milne.  From  that  time 
till  his  death  he  was  the  principal  of  the  institution,  man- 
aging its  general  affairs,  and  giving  daily  instruction  in 
the  Chinese  language.  This  college  has  been  removed  to 
Hong  Kong,  where  classes  of  Chinese  boys  have  been 
instructed  in  English  and  Chinese,  thus  fitting  them  for 
interpreters,  and  to  fill  various  stations  where  a knowl- 
edge of  the  two  languages  is  required.  Some  of  its  stu- 
dents have  afforded  important  aid  in  giving  the  gospel 
to  their  countrymen,  but  it  still  remains  a question  whe- 
ther for  this  purpose  the  same  amount  of  instruction 
given  in  their  own  language  would  not  better  fit  them 
for  usefulness. 

In  the  midst  of  these  labors,  Dr.  Milne  was  called  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  his  dearest  earthly  friend.  Sickness 
had  often  visited  them,  and  death  had  already  taken  two 
dear  children  from  the  afflicted  parents,  but  the  mother 
was  still  spared.  In  March,  1819,  she  was  called  to  her 
rest,  dying  in  peace,  and  in  the  full  hope  of  a blessed  im- 
mortality. Most  deeply  and  tenderly  did  the  surviving 
husband  feel  his  loss.  Often  from  this  time,  even  till  his 
death,  the  pages  of  his  journal  were  wet  with  the  tears 
of  the  husband,  while  they  show  the  consolations  of  the 
Christian.  “ 0 Rachel ! Rachel ! endeared  to  me  by 
every  possible  tie ! But  I will  try  not  to  grieve  for  thee. 


332 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


as  thou  didst  often  request  before  thy  departure.  I will 
try  to  cherish  the  remembrance  of  thy  virtues  and  say- 
ings, and  teach  them  to  the  dear  babes  thou  hast  left  be- 
hind. The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away, 
and  blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord.” 

From  this  time  the  care  of  his  four  surviving  children 
was  heavy  upon  his  mind,  but  he  slackened  not  his  hand 
in  the  work  of  the  Lord,  but  rather  quickened  his  steps 
as  he  came  nearer  the  goal.  For  more  than  two  years 
all  the  concerns  of  the  mission  had  devolved  on  himself 
alone.  It  was  his  to  visit  and  petition  government,  to 
plan  and  superintend  the  mission  buildings,  to  oversee 
the  schools,  to  prepare  the  magazine,  to  edit  the  Gleaner, 
to  teach  in  the  college,  and  carry  on  the  work  of  transla- 
tion. He  was  instant  also  in  preaching  the  word.  He 
preached  in  a pagan  temple  weekly,  and  to  the  Chinese  on 
Thursday  evening  and  twice  on  the  Sabbath. 

The  difficulty  of  collecting  a congregation  was  all  along 
felt.  The  Chinese  spend  the  day  in  hard  labor  and  their 
evenings  are  very  commonly  devoted  to  gambling.  When 
a few  persons  came  to  hear,  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  fix 
their  attention.  Some  would  be  talking,  some  laughing 
at  the  novelty  of  the  doctrines,  and  some  would  be  smok- 
ing their  pipes,  but  the  few  who  attended  regularly  soon 
became  decorous  and  attentive. 

The  reception  of  his  preaching  among  the  heathen,  as 
described  to  him  by  a Christian  convert,  is  quite  charac- 
teristic of  Chinese  sentiments.  “ Some,”  he  says,  “ treat  the 
gospel  with  the  highest  contempt.  Others  say,  what  is 
the  use  of  spending  so  much  money  in  making  books  for 
our  instruction  ? If  he  were  to  give  five  dollars  to  per- 


MILNE. 


333 


sons  out  of  employ,  or  a few  dollars  to  assist  persons 
commencing  a pepper  plantation,  that  would  be  spending 
money  more  to  the  purpose.” 

“ If  he  will  give  us  money  we  will  be  his  followers. 
He  is  a very  good  man,  that  we  all  know,  but  though  he 
has  been  here  more  than  two  years  what  good  has  he 
done  ? Who  has  received  his  doctrines?  Yet  he  has  not 
even  deprived  us  of  cock-fighting  ! What  use  in  calling 
us  to  embrace  his  religion,  and  to  worship  his  God  ? 
May  we  not  just  as  well  call  him  to  embrace  ours  and 
worship  our  Gods?” 

Another  person,  who  was  in  bis  employ,  says,  “ it  is  all 
very  well,  I now  receive  his  pay,  I ought  to  serve  him,  I 
will  agree  with  him  ; even  if  be  bid  me  go  out  and  read 
the  Gospel  to  the  people  in  town  when  he  is  absent  I will 
do  it.”  Yet  these  labors  served  to  enlighten  the  minds  ot 
many,  to  reform  their  conduct  and  to  weaken  their  attach- 
ment to  idolatry.  The  native  teacher  Liang  Afa  was  the 
first  convert  whom  he  baptised.  The  convert  long  out- 
lived his  instructor  of  whose  life  and  habits  be  often  spoke 
with  interest  and  adhered  to  his  profession  and  the  work 
of  preaching  the  gospel  though  tried  by  the  loss  of  prop- 
erty, scourging  and  imprisonment.  He  was  the  first  or- 
dained Chinese  Evangelist,  and  labored  in  connection 
with  the  London  Missionary  Society. 

But  the  work  to  which  he  devoted  most  of  the  study 
and  labor  of  the  last  seven  years  of  his  life  was  the  trans- 
lation and  composition  of  books.  By  his  early  diligence 
in  the  study  of  Chinese,  he  acquired  great  facility  in  wri- 
ting on  moral  and  religious  subjects  in  that  language. 
“ No  tracts,”  says  his  surviving  colleague,  “ are  so  accept- 


334 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


able  to  the  Chinese,  as  some  of  Milne’s.  In  the  translation 
of  the  Old  Testament,  he  chose  the  following  historical 
books,  supposing  them  easiest  to  translate — Deuteronomy, 
Joshua,  and  Judges,  the  books  of  Samuel,  Kings,  and 
Chronicles,  Ezra,  Nehemiah,  Esther,  and  Job.  Dr.  Mor- 
rison translated  the  rest.  He  wrote  also  not  less  than 
fifteen  tracts  varying  each  from  ten  to  seventy  leaves, 
besides  a full  commentary  on  Ephesians  and  an  elabor- 
ate work  in  two  volumes,  entitled,  “ Essay  on  the  Soul.” 

His  own  view  of  these  multiplied  works  is  found  in 
his  private  journal. 

“ They  appear  many  for  my  strength,  especially  if  to 
these  the  care  of  my  own  family  be  added.  I humbly 
hope  also,  that  they  are,  and  will  be  useful  to  the  church 
of  God.  But  when  I view  them  as  connected  with  the 
imperfection  of  my  motives,  and  the  dullness  and  defi- 
ciency of  spiritual  affections  in  them,  I am  disposed  to 
adopt  the  language  of  the  Prophet,  ‘Very  many,  and 
very  dry.’  They  appear  almost  to  be  dead  works. 
Woe’s  me!  Woe’s  me!  My  dead  soul  I Lord  make  it 
akin  to  thee,  and  this  will  give  life  to  all  my  labors.” 

He  died  in  1822.  There  had  been  many  premonitions 
of  danger,  followed  by  partial  recovery ; large  expecto- 
rations of  blood  indicated  disease  of  the  lungs,  but  it  ap- 
peared at  length,  that  the  liver  was  the  seat  of  the  fatal 
complaint. 

After  a voyage  to  Penang,  for  health,  he  returned 
emaciated  and  weak,  to  die  at  his  post.  There  he  had 
planted  the  standard  of  his  Master,  there  he  had  defend- 
ed it,  and  there  he  fell.  He  had  not  then  to  relinquish 
his  treasures  for  they  were  laid  up  for  him  in  heaven. 


MILNE. 


335 


He  had  no  desperate  work  of  repentance  to  perform. 
He  had  no  secret  or  open  enemies  to  forgive,  for  he  cher- 
ished no  ill  will  to  any  one.  He  had  not  then  to  seek 
that  Friend  to  stand  by  him,  who  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother,  for  in  his  youth  he  sought  and  found  him,  and 
committed  to  him  the  keeping  of  his  soul.  He  was  not 
leaving  his  home  and  friends,  for  a friendless  exile,  but 
he  w as  going  to  his  Father’s  house,  to  see  that  wondrous 
Saviour,  who  loved  him,  and  gave  himself  for  him. 

His  end  was  not  rapturous,  but  peaceful  and  thought- 
ful, regarding  it  a serious  thing  to  stand  before  the  per- 
fect judgment. 

He  died  at  the  age  of  thirty- seven,  and  about  ten  years 
after  his  arrival  in  China.  Thus  have  we  traced  the 
course  of  this  devoted  servant  of  God,  from  the  shep- 
herd boy  on  the  hills  of  Scotland,  to  the  successful  mis- 
sionary living  and  dying  among  the  millions  of  Asia. 
Some  of  the  heathens  converted  through  his  instrument- 
ality may  now  be  hymning  the  Redeemer’s  praise  with 
him  in  heaven,  while  multitudes  of  the  living  and  the 
unborn  millions  of  China  may  yet  read  of  Jesus  and 
his  salvation  in  the  pages  traced  by  his  hand. 

His  success  as  a missionary  resulted  greatly  from  his 
humble  piety  and  entire  devotion  to  the  work.  He  used 
to  say,  “ When  I am  convinced  a thing  is  right , I can  go 
through  fire  to  accomplish  it.”  He  was  convinced  that 
the  cause  of  missions  was  the  cause  of  heaven,  and  nei- 
ther floods  nor  fire  could  impede  his  onward  progress. 
One  great  object  constantly  filled  his  mind  and  fired  his 
soul,  and  that  was  the  establishment  of  Christ’s  kingdom 
among  the  nations.  This  called  out  the  earnest  prayers 


336 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


of  liis  youth,  and  engrossed  the  strength  of  his  life.  At 
all  times,  and  on  all  occasions,  the  missionary  work  was 
the  first  with  him.  “ This  one  thing  he  did:”  he  slept 
little — lived  frugally,  and  labored  with  great  energy,  and 
system,  and  untiring  zeal.  This  accounts  for  the  great 
amount  of  work  performed  during  the  ten  years  of  his 
missionary  career.  The  readiness  with  which  he  seized 
on  passing  events  and  pressed  them  into  service,  added 
to  the  success  of  his  labors.  An  extract  from  his  pri- 
vate prayers  expresses  this  thought : “ Give  me  wisdom 
to  know,  and  energy  to  seize  on  all  the  facilities  fur- 
nished by  Providence  for  promoting  truth  and  righteous- 
ness. May  I be  humble  in  myself,  and  greatly  value 
the  talents  of  others.  0 bless  my  family,  my  partner  in 
life ; bless  our  little  ones  with  the  beginnings  of  eternal 
life.  Fit  me  for  a useful  life  and  a happy  death.  My 
eyes  are  lifted  up  toward  thy  mercy  in  Jesus  Christ.  It 
is  my  only  hope,  my  sole  plea.  Lord  look  upon  me — 
pardon  me — bless  me  and  mine,  in  time,  and  through 
eternity,  for  Christ’s  sake.  I give  myself  afresh  to  thee, 
my  Creator,  Kedeemer  and  Sanctifier.  Seal  me,  and 
save  me.  Amen,  and  Amen.” 

In  the  memoirs  of  Milne  there  is  an  extract  from  his 
will,  concerning  the  education  of  his  children.  He  was 
solicitous  that  they  might  very  early  be  taught  two 
things ; one,  to  seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 
righteousness , and  the  other,  to  be  diligent  in  business , and 
adds,  “It  would  be  a most  delightful  anticipation  for 
me  to  cherish,  that  they  or  some  of  them  should  devote 
themselves  to  the  service  of  Christ  as  Chinese  mission- 
aries.” 


MILNE . 


337 


The  desire  of  the  good  man’s  heart  was  granted. 
One  of  the  four  children,  a twin  brother,  and  who  bore 
the  name  of  his  father,  and  inherited  largely  his  tem- 
perament and  spirit,  arrived  in  China  in  1839 ; and  after 
a term  of  years,  somewhat  longer  than  his  father’s  mis- 
sionary life,  spent  in  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  Chinese 
at  Ningpo  and  Shanghae,  was  at  length  compelled,  by 
loss  of  health,  to  return  to  England. 

Milne  is  a name  of  hallowed  memory  among  the  co- 
laborers for  giving  the  gospel  to  the  millions  of  China, 
and  many  of  that  people  who  have  and  are  to  feel  the 
influence  of  his  faith  and  works,  will  join  him  with  the 
unnumbered  worshipers  in  praising  him  who  died  to 
redeem  them  by  his  precious  blood. 


MILNE. 

Mrs.  Rachel  Milne,  daughter  of  Charles  Cowie,  Esq., 
of  Aberdeen,  Scotland,  was  born  September  23d,  1783, 
and  married  in  1812,  to  the  Rev.  William  Milne,  and 
soon  after  embarked  with  her  husband  at  Portsmouth 
for  China.  After  touching  at  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope 
and  the  Isle  of  France,  they  arrived  at  Macao,  July, 
1813.  Here  Mrs.  Milne  found  a home  in  the  family  of 
Dr.  Morrison,  while  her  husband  was,  by  order  of  the 
Portuguese  government,  obliged  to  leave  the  place  with- 
in twenty-four  hours  after  his  arrival.  He  went  to  Can- 
ton, and  in  1815,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  he  removed 
to  Malacca,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  Anglo-Chinese 
College,  and  continued  his  labors  of  teaching,  preaching, 

15 


338 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


and  translating,  till  1822,  when  he  exchanged  a life  of 
eminent  usefulness  on  earth  for  the  Christian’s  enjoyment 
and  reward  in  heaven.  Mrs.  Milne  died  at  Malacca  in 
March,  1819,  leaving  one  daughter  and  three  sons.  One 
of  the  latter  gave  himself  to  the  practice  of  medicine, 
another  was  a successful  minister  of  the  gospel  in  the 
land  of  his  father’s  nativity,  while  the  other,  his  twin 
brother,  followed  the  footsteps  of  his  father  as  a mission- 
ary to  the  Chinese. 

Mrs.  Milne  is  remembered  as  eminently  pious,  prudent 
and  meek-tempered,  and  after  living  usefully,  died  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  years,  in  the  full  hope  of  a blessed  eter- 
nity. 

Most  deeply  and  tenderly  did  her  surviving  husband 
feel  his  loss,  and  from  this  time  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
the  pages  of  his  private  journal  are  wet  with  the  tears  of 
the  husband,  while  they  also  glow  with  the  consolations 
of  the  Christian. 

Mrs.  Milne  enjoyed  in  childhood  the  instructions  of 
eminently  pious  parents,  and  in  her  journal  we  find  the 
statement,  “ My  mother’s  instructions  were  enforced  by 
her  prayers  and  example.”  This  legacy  received  from  a 
prayerful  and  godly  mother,  she  handed  down  to  her 
children,  of  whom  she  was  often  heard  to  say,  “ I have 
never  wished  for  riches  or  fame  for  my  children,  but  that 
they  may  truly  fear  God,  and  be  useful  members  of  so- 
ciety.” 


MORRISON. 


339 


MORRISON. 

Rev.  Robert  Morrison,  the  first  Protestant  mis- 
sionary to  China,  was  born  at  Morpeth,  in  the  north 
of  England,  5th  January,  1782.  He  was  of  pious  par- 
ents, of  Scotch  descent,  but  remained  impenitent  till  the 
age  of  fifteen,  when  he  was  brought  to  trust  his  soul  in 
Jesus  Christ  for  salvation.  He  then  began  the  practice, 
continued  in  after  life,  of  committing  to  memory  a verse 
of  Scripture  daily.  Thus  did  a foreseeing  God  begin  to 
prepare  him  as  a translator  of  his  holy  Word.  From 
the  time  he  united  with  the  Scottish  church,  in  1798,  he 
w'as  animated  with  a strong  desire  to  be  useful  in  the 
world,  and  to  do  this  he  saw  that  he  needed  an  education. 
Up  to  this  time,  he  had  followed  the  humble  occupation 
of  his  father — that  of  a boot-tree  maker , and  resided  at 
Newcastle.  Neither  his  poverty  nor  the  dissuasions  of 
his  friends  could  divert  him  from  his  purpose.  About 
1801  he  succeeded  in  placing  himself  under  the  instruc- 
tion of  Rev.  Mr.  Laidler,  of  Newcastle,  to  learn  Latin. 
He  studied  in  the  morning  before  six,  and  in  the  evening 
after  seven  o’clock,  working  at  his  trade  during  the  day. 
This  he  continued  for  fourteen  months,  when,  in  the 
early  part  of  1803,  he  was  admitted  into  a theological 
school  at  Hoxton,  in  the  suburbs  of  London,  where  the 
first  Christian  desire  of  his  heart,  which  had  been  con- 
cealed almost  from  himself,  was  made  public — viz.,  of 
preaching  the  gospel  to  the  heathen.  His  friends  pressed 
him  to  stay  at  home ; his  father  wept  and  prayed  over 
him,  unwilling  to  part  with  him,  yet  fearing  that  he  was 
doing  wrong  by  opposing  his  departure.  Robert  was  his 


340 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


youngest  son,  the  joy  and  rejoicing  of  his  heart,  and  this 
self-sacrificing  parent  lived  to  see  him  honored  among 
the  churches  of  Christ.  After  the  death  of  his  mother, 
Robert  obtained  the  consent  of  his  father  to  his  wishes. 

Accordingly,  he  now  determined,  in  the  strength  of 
the  Lord,  to  surrender  himself  to  his  service,  and  was 
accepted  by  the  London  Missionary  Society,  and  in  1804, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  was  removed  to  their  seminary 
at  Gosport.  There  he  continued  under  the  instructions 
of  Rev.  David  Bogue,  till  January,  1807,  when  he  was 
ordained  as  a missionary  to  China. 

Many  and  many  an  age  had  the  millions  of  this  em- 
pire appeared  on  the  stage  of  life,  and  groped  their  dark 
and  cheerless  way  down  to  the  gates  of  death,  having 
no  hope,  and  without  God  in  the  world,  before  this  first 
preacher  of  righteousness  appeared  among  them. 

We  find  the  following  language  in  the  instructions  re- 
ceived by  him  from  the  Missionary  Society,  dated  Jan- 
uary 20th,  1807 : 

“ When  you  have  attained  the  great  object  of  acquir- 
ing the  language,  you  may  turn  this  to  some  account  for 
the  good  of  the  world.  Perhaps  you  may  have  the 
honor  of  forming  a Chinese  dictionary,  or,  perhaps,  the 
still  greater  honor  of  translating  the  Scriptures  into  a 
language  spoken  by  a third  of  the  human  race.” 

On  the  31st  of  January,  1807,  Mr.  Morrison  embarked 
for  China,  by  way  of  America,  where  he  remained  twenty 
days,  and  reembarked  at  ISTew  York,  in  the  ship  Trident, 
for  Canton.  He  received  from  Mr.  Madison,  then  Secre- 
tary of  State,  letters  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Carrington, 
American  consul  at  Canton.  He  landed  at  Macao,  a few 


MOEEISON. 


341 


miles  below  Canton,  on  tbe  4th  of  September,  but  he 
had  scarcely  landed,  when  he  was  ordered  away  by  the 
Portuguese  governor  of  that  colony,  through  the  jealousy 
of  the  Roman  Catholics.  Compelled  thus  unceremonious- 
ly to  leave  Macao,  he  procured  a passage  to  Canton,  where 
his  letter  to  Mr.  Carrington  procured  for  him  lodgings  in 
the  storehouse  of  some  kind  New  York  merchants. 

He  at  once  adopted  the  Chinese  costume,  cultivated 
the  cue  and  the  long  nails,  ate  with  his  Chinese  teacher, 
and  learned  to  use  the  chop-sticks ; ate,  and  studied,  and 
slept  in  the  same  room,  and  that  a portion  of  a mer- 
chant’s warehouse ; studied  at  the  language  night  and 
day,  using  a small  brown  earthen  lamp  for  his  midnight 
toil,  having  a copy  of  Henry’s  quarto  volume  of  Com- 
mentaries set  on  end  for  his  lamp-shade,  to  keep  off  the 
wind,  and  in  all  things  studying  the  strictest  economy. 

At  the  close  of  1808  the  British  were  expelled  from 
Canton  and  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Macao.  Here  he 
was  so  unwilling  to  expose  himself  to  public  gaze  that 
he  seldom  walked  out,  in  consequence  of  which  his  health 
began  to  suffer.  The  first  time  he  ventured  out  was  by 
moonlight,  attended  by  two  Chinese.  Yet  during  all  this 
time  he  was  silently  studying  the  language,  and  so  anx- 
ious was  he  to  learn  it  that  his  private  prayers  were  of- 
fered to  God  in  broken  Chinese. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1809,  he  was  married  at 
Macao  to  Miss  Mary  Morton,  born  at  Dublin,  the  eldest 
daughter  of  John  Morton,  Esq.,  surgeon  of  the  Royal 
Irish  Artillery,  and  on  the  same  day  Mr.  Morrison  re- 
ceived the  appointment  of  translator  to  the  East  India 
Company  as  assistant  to  Sir  George  Staunton. 


342 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


This  appointment  secured  to  him  a permanent  resi- 
dence in  China,  and  afforded  him  the  means  of  support 
and  the  power  of  doing  much  for  the  cause  of  benevo- 
lence. 

In  1811  the  East  India  Company  published  his  gram- 
mar of  the  Chinese  language,  which  is  a valuable  work, 
but  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  make  a grammar  of  a lan- 
guage destitute  of  conjugations,  declensions  and  termina- 
tions. 

Nor  was  he  exempt  from  the  domestic  afflictions 
common  to  missionaries  abroad,  which  are  often  unat- 
tended by  the  alleviating  circumstances  surrounding 
those  in  Christian  lands.  This  same  year  he  had  with 
his  own  hands  to  dig  the  grave  of  his  first-born  son,  and 
during  the  work  of  sorrow  was  forcibly  driven  off  by 
the  Chinese. 

In  1815  Mrs.  Morrison  was  obliged  by  ill  health  to  seek 
for  a cooler  climate,  and  leaving  her  husband  she  sailed 
with  her  two  children  for  England.  After  an  absence 
of  five  years  she  returned  with  improved  health,  but  as 
it  proved  to  die  in  China  the  following  year.  Soon  after, 
her  two  orphan  children  returned  to  England. 

While  laboring  primarily  to  prepare  himself  to  trans- 
late the  sacred  Scriptures  into  the  language,  read  or 
spoken  by  one  third  of  our  race,  he  conceived  and 
commenced  the  great  work  of  translating  the  Imperial 
Chinese  Dictionary  into  the  English  language.  This 
elaborate  work  has,  and  is  destined  still  to  furnish  im- 
portant aid  to  the  student  in  learning  this  most  difficult 
language. 

The  dictionary  contains  forty  thousand  words,  each 


MORRISON. 


343 


represented  by  a distinct  Chinese  character,  is  printed  on 
four  thousand  five  hundred  and  ninety -five  pages,  and 
was  published  by  the  East  India  Company  at  an  ex- 
pense of  £12,000  sterling,  or  rather  more  than  $50,000. 
This  includes  the  expense  of  cutting  movable  metallic 
Chinese  type  to  use  in  connection  with  English  letters. 
The  first  volume  was  issued  at  Macao  in  1816,  and  the 
whole,  making  six  large  quarto  volumes,  each  as  large  as 
a family  Bible,  was  completed  in  1823. 

He  also  prepared  a volume  of  Chinese  and  English 
dialogues,  and  a vocabulary  of  the  Canton  dialect,  in  two 
volumes,  and  some  other  works  in  Chinese  and  English, 
as  well  as  some  religious  tracts.  He  also  lived  to  prepare 
a version  of  the  entire  Scriptures  in  the  Chinese  language. 
This,  though  failing  in  point  of  accuracy  and  idiom,  is 
still  a very  important  work,  and  furnished  proof  of  his 
unceasing  perseverance  and  unflagging  industry.  But 
of  all  his  works,  perhaps  the  most  important  was  the 
translation  of  the  Imperial  Dictionary,  before  referred 
to;  for  his  version  of  the  sacred  Scriptures,  though  a 
work  of  great  industry  and  toil,  left  the  labor  of  trans- 
lating the  Bible  into  idiomatic  and  intelligible  Chinese  to 
be  accomplished  by  his  successors. 

For  twenty-five  years  he  held  the  office  of  Chinese  in- 
terpreter and  translator  for  the  East  India  Company,  and 
for  many  years  was  the  only  means  of  communicating 
between  the  two  nations  in  all  the  important  matters  of 
politics,  commerce,  and  religion.  He  held  his  commission 
to  the  close  of  his  life,  and  to  the  end  enjoyed  the  una- 
bated confidence  of  the  East  India  Company.  Through 
their  generous  compensation  for  his  services,  he  was  able 


344 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


to  do  much  for  benevolent  purposes ; among  which  was 
the  founding,  in  1818,  of  the  Anglo-Chinese  College,  at 
Malacca,  to  the  establishment  of  which  he  gave  £1000, 
and  £100  annually  for  the  first  five  years  of  its  exist- 
ence. This  school  has  since  been  removed  to  Hong 
Kong,  and  is  under  the  care  of  Dr.  Legge,  a member  of 
the  London  Missionary  Society.  It  has  served  a good 
purpose  in  raising  up  interpreters  for  commercial  pur- 
poses, and  to  aid  in  the  international  intercourse  of  the 
Chinese  with  western  nations,  and  has  afforded  aid  in 
conveying  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 

The  most  sure  and  successful  way  of  raising  up  a 
native  ministry  in  China,  has  been  the  preaching  of  the 
gospel  in  their  own  language,  and  in  the  use  of  the  same 
language  to  train  up  or  instruct  a class  of  men  from  the 
converts  to  Christianity  to  preach  the  gospel  to  their 
countrymen. 

Though  Dr.  Morrison’s  time  was  largely  engrossed  in 
his  translations  and  services  as  interpreter  for  the  East 
India  Company,  he  found  time,  to  some  extent,  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  the  Chinese ; but  this  at  that  time 
was  done  at  Canton  secretly,  for  fear  of  the  officials,  and 
at  Macao  with  closed  doors,  for  fear  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olics. 

In  1824  he  visited  England,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Eliza  Armstrong,  with  whom  he  reembarked  for  China 
in  1826.  In  1833  Mrs.  Morrison  was  obliged  by  her 
own  ill  health  to  leave  her  husband  and  his  eldest  son 
in  China,  and  with  her  six  children  return  to  her  native 
land.  Dr.  Morrison  continued  in  the  faithful  discharge  of 
his  varied  and  responsible  duties  until  the  next  year,  when, 


MOEEISON. 


345 


at  the  age  of  fifty-three,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1884,  he 
departed  this  life,  in  the  hope  of  the  Christian’s  life  to 
come. 

His  oldest  son,  J.  E.  Morrison,  was  his  successor  as 
Chinese  translator  to  the  East  India  Company,  and  be- 
came a member  of  the  Legislative  Council  in  the  British 
government  in  Hong  Kong.  He  was  called  early  to  fol- 
low his  parents,  having  fallen  a victim  to  the  prevalent 
fever  in  1845,  and  sleeps  by  their  side  in  the  bury- 
ing ground  at  Macao.  Dr.  Morrison’s  eldest  daugh- 
ter, and  only  surviving  child  by  his  first  marriage,  is 
now  the  wife  of  a medical  missionary  at  Canton,  and 
is  a worthy  descendant  of  her  honored  and  revered 
father. 

While  the  Eoman  Catholics  and  ISTestorian  Christians, 
during  a residence  of  five  hundred  years  in  China,  had 
never  attempted  a translation  of  the  Bible  except  in  some 
small  portions,  as  the  Lord’s  Prayer,  and  small  parts  of  the 
Gospels,  Morrison  in  China,  and  Marshman,  his  cotem- 
porary, in  India,  had  each  given  the  entire  Bible  to  the 
Chinese  in  their  own  language.  These  two  versions  of 
Morrison  and  Marshman  appeared  about  the  same  time, 
and  of  much  the  same  character ; strongly  literal,  but 
largely  unintelligible  because  unidiomatic.  Marshman,  l 
one  of  the  pioneer  missionaries  to  India,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  the  English  Baptist  Missionary  Society,  had  given 
himself  early  to  the  study  of  the  Chinese  language,  and 
considering  his  distance  from  the  Chinese  empire,  it  is 
surprising  that  he  should  have  made  such  progress  in 
the  language,  and  been  able  to  translate  so  well,  and 
prepare  as  he  did  some  valuable  works  on  the  Chinese 

15* 


346 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


language.  While  these  first  missionaries  did  not  accom- 
plish all  they  desired,  and  the  first  translators  of  the  Bible 
into  Chinese  did  not  do  all  that  could  be  wished  in  ren- 
dering the  word  of  God  intelligible,  yet  when  we  think 
that  the  Chinese  language  is  read  in  China  proper,  in 
Cochin  China,  in  Lew  Chew,  in  Japan,  and  in  the  colo- 
nies of  Chinese  scattered  throughout  the  countries  of 
southern  Asia,  and  numbering  one  third  of  the  human 
race,  it  was  a sublime  thought  which  prompted  the  effort 
to  give  to  them  the  Bible.  It  is  cause  of  devout  thanks- 
giving that  these  first  missionaries  did  so  much  to  pre- 
pare the  way,  and  that  subsequent  laborers  have  been 
able  to  give  an  intelligible  translation  of  the  whole  Bible 
to  this  people.  And  thanks  to  God  ! the  gospel  is  now 
freely  preached  by  natives  and  foreigners  in  the  light  of 
the  sun,  and  among  the  crowded  millions  of  their  cities 
and  country. 

But,  dear  reader,  while  we  rejoice  that  so  much  has 
been  accomplished,  we  are  painfully  compelled  to  call 
your  attention  to  the  sacrifice  of  valuable  life  for  its  ac- 
complishment. How  many  have  resigned  loved  sons  and 
daughters,  and  while  offering  daily  prayer  for  success 
to  attend  their  self-denying  labors,  have  had  the  sad  in- 
telligence break  upon  the  ear,  or  more  frequently,  silent- 
ly present  itself  to  the  eye,  that  those  for  whom  they 
pray,  have  months  before  exchanged  their  self-denying 
toils  for  the  song  of  the  raptured  above.  In  this  cata- 
logue may  be  mentioned  the  names  of  devout  women, 
not  a few,  such  as 

Mrs.  Morrison,  Mrs.  S.  Johnson, 

“ Milne,  “ J.  Johnson, 


MORRISON. 


347 


Mrs.  Gutzlaff, 

Mrs. 

White, 

a 

Dean, 

tt 

Devan, 

a 

Boone, 

it 

Peet, 

tt 

Ball, 

i 

Lord, 

it 

Shuck, 

it 

Reed, 

u 

Doty, 

Cl 

Wood, 

tt 

Pohlman, 

it 

Legge, 

(C 

Stronach, 

it 

Jenks, 

tt 

James, 

tt 

Vrooman, 

it 

Speer, 

a 

Wyley, 

tt 

Hobson, 

tt 

Whilden, 

tt 

Jarrom, 

etc.,  etc.,  etc., 

who  since  the  consecration  of  this  pioneer  missionary  to 
China  have  counted  not  their  lives  dear  unto  them,  that 
they  might  make  known  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  to  her  perishing  sons  and  daughters. 

And  what  shall  I say  more,  for  the  time  would  fail  me 
to  tell  of  brethren  Lowrie,  Pohlman  and  Goddard,  of 
Milne,  Medhurst  and  Dyer,  of  Benham,  and  Reed,  and 
Abeel — who  through  faith  wrought  righteousness,  ob- 
tained promises,  out  of  weakness  were  made  strong,  and 
were  valiant  for  the  truth.  And  others,  namely,  A Fat, 
A Sun,  A Ee,  among  the  native  evangelists,  who  had 
trial  of  cruel  mocking  and  scourging,  yea  moreover,  of 
bonds  and  imprisonment ; and  these  all  received  not  the 
fulfillment  of  the  promises,  but  having  seen  them  afar 
off,  were  persuaded  of  them,  and  embraced  them,  and 
confessed  that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the 
earth. 


348 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


MORRISON. 

Mrs.  Mart  Morrison,  the  daughter  of  John  Morton, 
Esq.,  surgeon  of  the  Royal  Irish  Artillery,  was  born  at 
Dublin,  October  24,  1791,  and  married  to  Dr.  Robert 
Morrison,  at  Macao,  February  20,  1809.  In  1815  de- 
clining health  compelled  Mrs.  Morrison  to  visit  England 
with  her  children,  and  she  returned  to  her  husband  in 
China  in  1820.  She  came  back  with  improved  health, 
but  soon  to  die.  She  left  a son  and  daughter  to  grow  up 
without  a mother’s  care.  The  former,  the  Hon.  J.  R. 
Morrison,  after  an  illustrious  life  of  usefulness,  died  at 
Macao,  his  birth  place,  on  the  29th  of  August,  1843. 
The  latter  lived  to  occupy  an  honored  and  useful  posi- 
tion as  the  wife  of  a missionary  to  the  Chinese. 

Mrs.  Morrison  possessed  a superior  understanding,  a 
noble  generosity  of  soul,  and  an  ardent  love  to  Christ. 

Her  death,  which  occurred  at  Macao,  June  10,  1812, 
followed  in  a few  hours  the  first  symptoms  of  disease, 
but  found  her  ready  for  the  sudden  summons. 

Her  honored  husband  and  devoted  son  have  since 
found  a resting  place  by  her  grave  in  the  cemetery  of 
Macao. 


MORRISON. 

Hon.  J.  R.  Morrison,  the  son  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Morri- 
son, was  born  at  Macao,  April  17,  1814.  He  was  sent 
to  England  for  his  education  in  childhood,  but  returned 


MORRISON. 


849 


to  China  in  1826.  After  this  he  pursued  his  studies  at 
the  Anglo-Chinese  College  at  Malacca,  and  then  under 
the  immediate  instruction  of  his  father  at  Canton. 

On  the  death  of  his  father  in  1834,  he  was  appointed  his 
successor  as  Chinese  secretary  and  interpreter  to  the  super- 
intendent of  British  trade  in  China.  During  the  last  four 
years  of  his  life  he  occupied  a highly  responsible  position 
in  the  service  of  his  country,  during  which  he  conducted 
the  correspondence  with  the  Chinese  commissioners  in 
three  different  campaigns — interpreting  for  his  country- 
men in  their  intercourse  with  the  high  officers  of  the 
Chinese  court.  Sound  and  highly  serviceable  in  counsel 
— in  war,  faithful  to  the  interests  of  his  own  country, 
and  yet,  by  his  regard  for  the  welfare  of  the  enemy,  se- 
curing the  esteem  of  all  classes  among  them — he  toiled 
with  extraordinary  energy,  wisdom,  and  efficiency  until 
the  desire  of  his  heart  was  accomplished,  and  peace  de- 
clared on  an  honorable  basis.  Having  finished  the  work 
for  which  he  of  all  men  was  probably  most  competent,  he 
died  at  his  birth  place,  after  an  illness  of  nine  days,  on  the 
1st  of  August,  1843.  Mr.  Morrison  was  small  in  person, 
with  a youthful  appearance,  coupled  with  great  maturity 
of  mind,  and  possessed  rare  accuracy  of  knowledge  on  a 
greater  variety  of  subjects  than  come  within  the  range 
of  ordinary  minds.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  the  man 
who  would  do  so  much  and  do  it  so  well.  His  official 
services  were  promptly  and  satisfactorily  performed. 
His  opinions  were  sought  and  respected  in  settling  the 
treaty  of  peace  with  China,  and  in  the  Legislative  Coun- 
cil at  Hong  Kong,  of  which  he  was  a member ; and  he 
was  ever  ready  with  his  advice  and  sympathy  and  sup- 


350 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


port  for  the  missionaries  engaged  in  the  work  commenced 
by  his  honored  father. 

He  possessed  largely  the  spirit  of  his  divine  Master, 
and  by  his  alms  to  the  poor,  his  sympathy  for  the  suffer- 
ing, his  generous-hearted  and  open-handed  benevolence, 
gained  the  good  will  of  thousands  who  never  knew  him 
in  person.  At  his  death,  the  poor,  the  people  of  China, 
and  the  world,  lost  a friend.  His  grave  is  by  the  side 
of  his  father  and  mother,  in  the  cemetery  at  Macao. 


MUNSON. 

Rev.  Samuel  Munson  graduated  at  Andover  The- 
ological Seminary,  and  sailed  for  the  East  in  1833,  as 
a missionary  of  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  to  the  Indian  Ar- 
chipelago. Leaving  their  wives  at  Batavia,  the  Rev. 
Messrs.  Lyman  and  Munson  started  for  their  field  of 
labor  on  the  8th  of  April,  1834.  After  visiting  Pulo 
Nias,  they  reached  Tappanooly,  June  17,  and  declared 
their  intention  of  visiting  the  interior  of  the  Battak 
country,  in  Sumatra.  They  were  strongly  dissuaded 
from  this;  but  as  they  came  with  friendly  intentions, 
they  thought  they  had  no  cause  to  fear.  Being  pro- 
vided with  a guide  and  interpreter,  they  proceeded 
for  two  days’  journey  into  the  interior,  where  they 
lodged  at  a village  of  a friendly  chief,  who  also  endeav- 
ored to  persuade  them  to  return — to  whom  they  re- 
turned the  answer  as  above,  and  proceeded  on  their 
way.  The  next  day,  June  28th,  while  in  a wood,  they 
found  themselves  suddenly  surrounded  by  two  hundred 


MUNSON. 


351 


armed  savages  who  showed  hostile  intentions.  The  mis- 
sionaries declared  themselves  to  be  friends,  and  threw 
them  tobacco,  cloth,  and  gave  up  the  pistols  and  mus- 
kets in  the  hands  of  their  attendants.  Then,  the  signal 
for  assault  being  given,  the  missionaries  were  stabbed, 
their  arms  chopped  off,  and  their  bodies  devoured  by 
these  wild  cannibals. 

These  Battaks  wear  no  clothing  except  a strip  of  cloth 
around  the  loins  for  the  men,  and  a piece  somewhat 
broader  for  the  women. 

The  houses,  made  of  brushwood  and  bamboo,  are 
raised  a little  from  the  ground  and  covered  with  leaves. 
Their  villages,  composed  of  a cluster  of  these  huts,  are 
surrounded  by  strong  palisades,  sometimes  in  two  or 
three  rows.  The  people  never  appear  out  without  arms, 
consisting  of  large  knives,  or  cleavers,  which,  unsheathed, 
they  carry  on  their  shoulders,  with  a spear  in  one  hand. 

They  plant  a little  rice  in  the  neighborhood  of  their 
villages,  not  in  irrigated  fields,  as  do  their  neighbors,  the 
Malays,  but  on  the  dry  land,  and  gather  comparatively 
but  a small  harvest.  They  plant  also  a little  Indian 
corn,  the  egg-plant  and  the  yam,  and  gather  a little  gum- 
benjamin  for  export. 

The  island  of  Sumatra,  crossed  by  the  line  of  the 
equator,  is  more  than  a thousand  miles  in  length,  and 
on  an  average,  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  in 
breadth.  It  is  diversified  by  ridges  of  mountains  and 
numerous  rivers,  and  has  a rich  soil,  yielding  a great 
variety  of  productions.  This  fertile  island,  though  early 
visited  by  merchants  from  the  West,  is  still  inhabited  by 
savages  and  furnishes  no  hospitable  .retreat  for  strangers 


352 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Little  is  known  of  its  inhabitants,  but  enough  to  show 
a marked  variety  in  the  character  and  customs  of  the 
various  tribes.  Some  of  these  petty  states  are  supposed 
to  have  been  founded  by  emigrants  from  the  ancient  em- 
pire of  Menangkabu — others,  by  shipwrecked  mariners 
from  the  coasts  of  Malabar  and  Coromandel,  and  by  set- 
tlers from  Java,  Borneo  and  the  Malayan  peninsula — 
bringing  with  them  their  former  habits  of  piratical  ad- 
venture. Pageruyong,  the  capital  of  Menangkabu,  is 
placed  in  latitude  14'  south,  and  about  fifty  miles  east 
of  Padang.  After  visiting  this  ancient  capital  in  1818, 
Sir  Stamford  Raffles  states  that  the  whole  country,  as  far 
as  the  eye  could  trace,  was  one  continued  scene  of  cul- 
tivation, interspersed  with  innumerable  towns  and  vil- 
lages, shaded  by  cocoa-nut  and  other  fruit  trees,  and  the 
population  within  fifty  miles  around  Pageruyong  can  not 
be  less  than  a million.  This  region  has  been  famed  for 
the  riches  of  its  gold  mines  and  other  mineral  produc- 
tions, and  within  its  borders  geographers  have  marked 
the  situation  of  Mount  Ophir. 

The  following  notice  of  the  Battaks  is  from  the  pen 
of  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  who,  from  long  residence  in  that 
part  of  the  country,  and  from  his  high  character  as  a 
man,  forms  the  best  of  authority  on  that  subject.  In  a 
letter  written  in  February,  1820,  to  the  Duchess  of  Som- 
erset, he  gave  the  following  account  of  this  singular 
people : 

“ I have  just  left  Tappanooly,  situated  in  the  very  heart 
of  the  Battak  country,  abounding  in  camphor  and  ben- 
gamin,  and  full  of  interest  for  the  naturalist  and  the  phi- 
losopher. If  you  have  looked  into  Mr.  Marsden’s  his- 


MUNSON. 


353 


tory  of  Sumatra,  you  will  recollect  that  the  Battaks  are 
cannibals.  Now  do  not  be  surprised  at  what  I shall  tell 
you  concerning  them,  for  I tell  the  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth.  To  prepare  you  a little,  I must  premise 
that  the  Battaks  are  an  extensive  and  populous  nation 
of  Sumatra,  occupying  the  whole  of  that  part  of  the 
island  lying  between  Acheen  and  Menangkabu,  reach- 
ing to  both  shores.  The  coast  is  but  thinly  inhabited, 
but  in  the  interior  the  people  are  said  to  be  as  thick 
as  the  leaves  of  the  forest.  Perhaps  the  whole  nation 
may  amount  to  between  one  and  two  million  of  souls. 
They  have  a regular  government,  deliberative  assemblies, 
and  are  great  orators;  nearly  the  whole  of  them  can 
write,  and  they  possess  a language  and  written  character 
peculiar  to  themselves.  In  their  language  and  terms,  as 
well  as  in  some  of  their  laws  and  usages,  the  influence 
of  Hinduism  may  be  traced ; but  they  have  also  a religion 
peculiar  to  themselves.  They  acknowledge  the  one  and 
only  great  God,  under  the  title  of  Debata  A.ssf  Asm,  and 
they  have  a trinity  of  great  gods,  supposed  to  have  been 
created  by  him.  They  are  warlike,  extremely  fair  and 
honorable  in  their  dealing,  and  most  deliberate  in  all 
their  proceedings. 

“ The  evidence  adduced  by  Mr.  Marsden  must  have 
removed  all  doubt  from  any  unprejudiced  mind,  that, 
notwithstanding  all  this  in  their  favor,  the  Battaks  are 
strictly  cannibals,  but  he  has  not  gone  half  far  enough. 
He  seems  to  consider  that  it  is  only  in  cases  of  prisoners 
taken  in  war,  or  in  extreme  cases  of  adultery,  that  the 
practice  of  man-eating  is  resorted  to,  and  then  that  it  is 
only  in  a fit  of  revenge.  He  tells  us  that,  not  satisfied 


354 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


with  cutting  off  pieces  and  eating  them  raw,  instances 
have  been  known  where  some  of  the  people  have  run  up 
to  the  victim,  and  actually  torn  the  flesh  from  the  bones 
with  their  teeth.  He  also  tells  us  that  one  of  our  resi- 
dents found  the  remains  of  an  English  soldier,  who  had 
been  only  half  eaten,  and  afterward  discovered  his  fingers 
sticking  on  a fork,  laid  by,  but  first  taken  warm  from 
the  fire.  But  I had  rather  refer  your  grace  to  the  book, 
and  if  you  have  not  got  it,  pray  send  for  it,  and  read  all 
that  is  said  about  the  Battaks. 

“In  a small  pamphlet,  lately  addressed  to  the  Court 
of  Directors  respecting  the  coast,  an  instance  still  more 
horrible  than  any  thing  related  by  Mr.  Marsden,  is  intro- 
duced ; and  as  this  pamphlet  was  written  by  a high 
authority,  and  the  fact  is  not  disputed,  there  can  be  no 
question  as  to  its  correctness.  It  is  nearly  as  follows : 
A few  years  ago,  a man  had  been  convicted  of  a very 
common  crime,  and  was  sentenced  to  be  eaten  according 
to  the  law  of  the  land.  This  took  place  close  to  Tappa- 
nooly,  and  the  resident  was  invited  to  attend.  He  de- 
clined, but  his  assistant  and  a native  officer  were  present. 
As  soon  as  they  reached  the  spot,  they  found  a large  as- 
semblage of  people,  and  the  criminal  tied  to  a tree,  with 
his  hands  extended.  The  minister  of  justice,  who  was 
himself  a chief  of  some  rank,  then  came  forward  with  a 
large  knife  in  his  hand,  which  he  brandished  as  he  ap- 
proached the  victim.  He  was  followed  by  a man  carry- 
ing a dish,  in  which  was  a preparation  of  condiment, 
composed  of  limes,  chillies,  and  a salt  called  sambul. 

“ He  then  called  aloud  for  the  injured  husband,  and  de- 
manded what  part  he  chose;  he  replied,  the  right  ear, 


MUNSON. 


355 


which  was  immediately  cut  off  with  one  stroke,  and  de- 
livered to  the  party,  who,  turning  round  to  the  man  be- 
hind, deliberately  dipped  it  into  the  sambul,  and  devoured 
it ; the  rest  of  the  party  then  fell  upon  the  body,  each 
taking  and  eating  the  part  most  to  his  liking.  After 
they  had  cut  off  a considerable  part  of  the  flesh,  one  man 
stabbed  him  to  the  heart,  but  this  was  rather  out  of  com- 
pliment to  the  foreign  visitors,  as  it  is  by  no  means  the 
custom  to  give  the  coup  de  grace." 

It  was  with  a knowledge  of  all  these  facts  that  Sir 
Stamford  visited  Tappanooly  with  the  determination  to 
satisfy  his  mind  most  fully  in  every  thing  concerning 
cannibalism.  Accordingly  he  caused  the  most  intelli- 
gent chiefs  of  that  place  to  be  assembled,  and  in  the 
presence  of  witnesses,  Mr.  Price  and  Dr.  Jack,  obtained 
the  following  information,  of  the  truth  of  which  neither 
of  the  gentlemen  had  the  least  doubt.  It  is  the  univer- 
sal and  standing  law  of  the  Battaks,  that  death  by  eating 
shall  be  inflicted  in  the  following  cases : 1st,  for  adul- 
tery ; 2d,  for  midnight  robbery ; 3d,  in  wars,  the  prison- 
ers are  sacrificed  ; 4th,  for  intermarrying  in  the  same 
tribe ; and  5th,  for  a treacherous  attack  upon  a person, 
a house  or  a village. 

The  same  author  affirms  that  it  is  estimated  that  from 
sixty  to  one  hundred  Battaks  are  annually  eaten  in  time 
of  peace.  The  palms  of  the  hands  and  the  soles  of  the 
feet  are  the  delicacies  of  epicures  ! Formerly  it  was  the 
custom  for  the  people  to  eat  their  parents  when  too  old 
for  work ; this  practice,  however,  has  been  abandoned. 
When  the  party  is  a prisoner  taken  in  war,  he  is  eaten 
immediately  on  the  spot,  and  whether  dead  or  alive  al- 


356 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ters  not  the  case,  and  it  is  usual  even  to  drag  the  bodies 
from  the  grave  and  eat  the  flesh.  It  is  certain  that  it  is 
the  practice  not  to  kill  the  victims  till  the  whole  of  the 
flesh  is  cut  off,  should  the  party  live  so  long.  Horrible 
as  this  practice  appears,  it  seems  seldom  to  be  the  effect 
of  private  revenge,  but  the  result  of  much  deliberation. 
They  eat  the  flesh  with  a keener  relish  than  they  would 
beef  or  pork. 

Sir  Stamford,  in  concluding  his  letter  to  the  duchess, 
says,  “ You  know  that  I am  far  from  wishing  to  paint 
any  of  the  Malay  race  in  the  worst  colors,  but  yet  I must 
tell  the  truth.  Notwithstanding  the  practices  I have  re- 
lated, it  is  my  determination  to  take  Lady  Raffles  into 
the  interior,  and  to  spend  a month  or  two  in  the  midst 
of  the  Battaks.  Should  any  accident  occur  to  us,  or 
should  we  never  be  heard  of  more,  you  may  conclude 
we  have  been  eaten.” 

It  is  grateful  to  think  that  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  was 
not  eaten  by  cannibals,  but  after  an  eminently  useful  ca- 
reer as  a statesman,  returned  to  die  in  England.  In  1805 
he  was  appointed  assistant  secretary  at  Prince  of  Wales 
Island  ; in  1810  he  was  made  agent  of  the  governor 
general  with  the  Malay  States,  and  in  1811  was  raised 
to  be  lieutenant  governor  of  Java.  During  this  gov- 
ernment, which  lasted  till  1816,  his  enlightened  policy 
gained  the  warm  affection  of  the  Javanese.  In  1819,  as 
his  crowning  work,  he  established  the  settlement  and  free 
port  of  Singapore.  He  returned  to  England,  where  he 
died,  in  1826,  at  the  early  age  of  forty-five. 


P O H L M A N . 


357 


POHLMAN. 

Rev.  William  J.  Pohlman,  a missionary  of  the 
A.  B.  C.  F.  M.,  went  to  the  East  in  1838.  He  was  first 
stationed  at  Borneo,  spent  some  time  at  Singapore,  and 
after  the  opening  of  China,  was  located  at  Amoy.  He 
had  been  successful  in  acquiring  the  language,  had  gath- 
ered a little  Chinese  church,  and  erected  a house  of  wor- 
ship, when,  in  1849,  he  went  to  Hong  Kong  to  procure 
lamps  and  needful  furniture  for  his  new  chapel,  and  while 
returning  to  Amoy,  was  drowned.  We  well  remember 
when  at  Hong  Kong,  during  that  last  visit,  his  erect  form 
and  elastic  step,  and  cheerful  smile,  and  animated  con- 
versation, while  discoursing  upon  the  opening  doors  for 
usefulness  at  Amoy,  and  his  brightening  prospects  for 
winning  the  heathen  to  Christ.  He  was  an  interesting 
preacher  in  English  and  Chinese,  and  his  intimate  com- 
munion with  the  Master  gave  a peculiar  charm  to  his 
public  ministrations  and  his  social  intercourse.  He  was 
eminently  a common-sense  practical  man,  and  found  it 
easy  to  carry  religion  into  all  the  relations  of  life  with- 
out dishonoring  his  Master.  During  his  ten  or  eleven 
years  in  the  East,  he  had  largely  won  the  confidence  and 
friendship  of  his  colleagues,  and  was,  as  we  thought, 
eminently  fitted  to  enter  the  waving  harvest  around  him 
and  gather  many  sheaves  into  the  garner  of  God. 

The  providence  which  thus  ended  his  work,  seems 
mysterious,  but  the  hand  of  him  who  orders  all,  has 
written  the  explanation  in  characters  of  benevolence  and 
light,  where  we  can  read  them  at  a future  time.  Till 
then,  we  trust  him,  though  he  try  us. 


358 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


POHLM  AN. 

Mrs.  Pohlman,  the  sister  of  Dr.  Scudder,  missionary 
to  India,  and  wife  of  Rev.  W.  J.  Pohlman,  with  her  hus- 
band, sailed  from  America  in  1838,  to  join  the  mission  to 
Netherlands  India  from  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  and 
in  connection  with  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  They  labored 
among  the  Chinese  in  Borneo  and  tbe  Straits  of  Malacca, 
till  the  opening  in  China,  when  they  removed  to  Amoy, 
where,  after  a brief  illness,  she  died,  September  30th, 
1845,  leaving  an  infant  daughter  and  a sorrowing  hus- 
band to  feel  her  loss.  Her  little  boy  had  been  buried 
but  two  months  before  her,  and  the  mother  was  laid  by 
his  side,  in  the  burying  ground  of  Kulangsu,  a little 
island  near  Amoy,  where  rests  the  dust  of  the  former 
Mrs.  Boone,  Mrs.  Doty,  and  others. 


REED. 

Rev.  Alanson  Reed  was  a native  of  Cummmgton, 
Massachusetts.  He  was  the  youngest  son  and  favorite 
child  of  a widowed  mother,  but  she  died  before  her  son 
finished  his  theological  studies.  He  was  born  June  21, 
1807,  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty,  closed  his  stud- 
ies at  Hamilton  Theological  Seminary  in  1835,  and  on 
the  22d  of  September  of  that  year  sailed  with  his  wife  to 
his  home  among  the  Chinese.  He  landed  at  Singapore 
in  March,  1836,  and  the  following  July  commenced  the 
study  of  the  Chinese  language  at  Bangkok.  Here  he 


REED. 


359 


soon  commenced  family  worship  in  this  new  and  diffi- 
cult language,  and  zealously  toiled  to  win  the  heathen  to 
Christ.  In  reply  to  the  inquiry,  if  he  did  not  long  for 
his  pleasant  home  and  his  native  land,  he  said,  “No,  I 
love  my  work.”  He  was  looking  forward  to  China 
proper  as  his  destined  field  of  labor,  but  it  was  not  the 
misnamed  but  the  true,  celestial  empire  which  God  de- 
signed him  soon  to  enter. 

After  a brief  but  devoted  missionary  life  he  died  at 
Bangkok  August  29th,  1837,  aged  thirty  years.  He 
died  in  such  a manner  as  left  with  his  surviving  breth- 
ren and  the  witnessing  heathen  sublime  proof  of  the  di- 
vinity of  our  holy  religion.  It  was  well  said  by  one  of 
his  associates  at  the  station  : “ Not  soon  do  we  expect  to 
see  another  more  eminently  qualified  by  ardent  piety, 
singleness  and  firmness  of  purpose,  and  zeal  for  the  con- 
version of  the  heathen.”  He  was  a man  of  a strong 
frame,  gentle  spirit,  and  light  complexion,  and  his  firm 
health  promised  long  life  and  lasting  labors,  but  dysen- 
tery, the  disease  which  removed  him,  often  selects  such 
for  its  victims. 

His  mourning  widow,  a sister  of  Dr.  ~W.  W.  Everts, 
after  struggling  with  disease  in  the  person  of  her  infant 
and  fatherless  boy,  embarked  with  him  for  the  United 
States  with  the  hope  of  saving  his  life,  but  in  this  she 
was  disappointed.  The  dear  boy  died  in  his  mother’s 
arms  and  was  buried  in  the  sea. 

Mrs.  Beed  afterward  married  Mr.  Allen,  an  esteemed 
brother  of  the  church  in  Vermont,  but  has  since  gone  to 
her  rest  in  heaven. 


360 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


RICHARDS. 

Rev.  William  L.  Richards  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Wil- 
liam Richards,  one  of  the  first  missionaries  to  the  Sand- 
wich Islands.  William,  the  eldest  of  eight  children,  was 
born  at  Lahaina,  Sandwich  Islands,  December  3,  1823. 
He  remained  at  the  islands  till  he  was  thirteen  years  old, 
when  he  embarked  with  his  parents,  and  his  brothers 
and  sisters  for  the  United  States.  During  his  residence 
among  the  heathen  he  was  as  far  as  possible  preserved 
by  his  parents  from  pagan  influence,  and  from  them  he 
received  his  mental  training  as  well  as  his  moral  culture, 
except  that  one  of  the  other  missionaries  heard  his  reci- 
tations in  Latin  for  a few  months.  He  was  nevertheless 
well  fitted  at  that  extreme  youth  to  enter  college,  indi- 
cating great  industry  and  aptitude  on  his  part,  and  ex- 
treme fidelity  and  care  on  the  part  of  bis  parents. 

After  providing  for  the  care  and  education  of  their 
children,  six  in  number,  these  devoted  parents,  with 
bleeding  hearts,  bade  their  loved  ones  adieu  and  turned 
their  faces  again  toward  the  heathen  world.  With  the 
arms  of  the  little  ones  entwined  around  their  necks  and 
the  hands  of  those  who  were  part  of  their  bones  and 
blood,  hanging  on  to  the  skirts  of  their  garments,  these 
parents  suffered  a pang  on  leaving  home,  to  which,  on 
first  leaving  America,  they  were  strangers.  The  chief  of 
all  missionary  self-denial  is  indicated  by  this  one  parting 
scene.  All  other  is  undeserving  the  name  of  self-denial 
when  compared  with  this.  The  ties  to  home  and  coun- 
try, and  kindred,  and  parents,  even,  may  be  sundered, 


RICHARDS. 


361 


and  the  heart  may  sorrow ; hut  when  parents  are  torn 
from  their  children,  when  these  young  immortals,  being 
linked  to  those  who  gave  them  being  by  sympathies  and 
responsibilities  as  untransferable  as  the  relationship,  are 
separated,  the  tendrils  may  be  torn  so  as  to  bleed,  but 
ties  can  never  be  severed.  Parental  responsibilities  and 
their  corresponding  sympathies  are  as  inalienable  as 
man’s  immortality.  The  child,  when  removed  from  pa- 
rental care  in  early  life,  may  be  ignorant  of  its  origin,  or 
ignore  its  relations,  but  the  parent  never.  And  the  child 
duly  educated,  or  who  has  grown  up  under  the  daily 
care  of  faithful  parents,  cherishes  for  them  a filial  piety 
more  nearly  akin  to  the  Christian’s  love  and  longing  for 
God  than  any  feeling  that  ever  found  place  in  the  hu- 
man breast. 

Something  of  this  sentiment  finds  expression  in  a 
letter  from  our  young  friend,  dated  August  24,  1839, 
written  in  America  after  his  parents  had  returned  to 
the  islands : 

“My  Dear  Parents: — I now  take  up  my  pen  to 
write  you,  dear  father  and  mother,  again.  But  when 
I think  of  you  I feel  homesick,  to  think  we  are  sepa- 
rated from  each  other  by  such  a distance  as  eighteen 
thousand  miles;  to  think  that  I can  not  visit  home  in 
vacations,  as  other  students  do.  Yet  I feel  glad  to  think 
I may  see  j'ou  again  in  three  or  four  years.  In  two 
years  more,  if  nothing  happens,  I shall  finish  my  col- 
legiate education.  I shall  be  at  that  time  about  eighteen 
years  old.  But  I will  not  look  forward,  for  all  my  hopes 
may  be  cut  off  as  were  my  brother’s.  I will  look  back 
to  those  pleasant  days  we  had  at  Lahaina.  How  happy 

16 


362 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


we  were  then  ! We  never  thought  how  hard  it  was  to 
part  with  home.  No  one  scarcely  imagined  it.  I could 
not  then  think  what  a hard  thing  it  would  he  to  have  no 
parents  to  watch  over  me.  Now  I know,  and  feel  it  too. 
Every  little  thing  like  home  reminds  me  of  it.  I pre- 
sume, yes,  I know,  that  almost  every  thing  you  see  re- 
minds you  of  us.  You  anxiously  look  for  something 
from  each  of  us  on.  the  arrival  of  every  vessel  from  the 
United  States.  And  when  you  receive  the  letter  how 
joyful  you  must  feel,  though  at  the  same  time  you  fear 
lest  there  should  be  some  sad  news  in  it.  I am  just  so. 
I have  not  received  a letter  from  you  for  six  months,  but 
I expect  one  every  day.  I received  mother’s  journal  of 
your  voyage  out,  which  was  much  worse  than  ours  to 
America.  I have  not  received  many  letters  from  my 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  have  not  seen  them  either  since 
I left  them. 

“Again,  my  thoughts  revert  to  home — to  its  happy 
scenes.  It  seems  to  me  now  as  if  I never  could  forget 
home.  Every  day  that  passes  by  brings  new  recollec- 
tions of  home  to  my  mind,  and  only  increases  my  desire 
to  see  you.  I can  by  my  memory  see  home  as  plainly  as 
if  I had  seen  it  but  an  hour  ago.  I do  not  feel  as  happy 
as  I have  been,  though  I am  not  unhappy.” 

Soon  after  reaching  this  country  he  entered  the  sopho- 
more class  of  Jefferson  College,  at  Cannonsburg,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1838,  and  found  a home  in  the  family  of  its 
president,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Brown. 

In  a letter,  dated  December  3,  1839,  he  writes : 

“Dear  Father  and  Mother: — I suppose  you  are 
now  thinking  of  me  on  my  birth-day,  perhaps  weeping 


RICHARDS. 


363 


to  think  that  I can  not  say,  ‘ My  God,  thou  art  the  guide 
of  my  youth to  think  that  sixteen  years  have  passed 
away  and  I have  not  given  myself  to  him  to  whom  I 
was  dedicated  in  my  infancy.  Yet  though  I know  all 
this,  though  I have  enjoyed  privileges  superior  to  those 
which  many  have,  still  I have  not  sought  Christ  as  my 
refuge.  But  think  not,  dear  father  and  mother,  that  I do 
not  think  at  all  about  religion.  O,  no.  Not  till  I forget 
my  parents  and  my  home,  not  till  every  trace  of  them  is 
swept  from  my  mind — and  will  that  ever  be  ? Can  I for- 
get the  religious  instructions  I have  received  ? When- 
ever I think  of  home,  they  rise  into  my  mind,  and  often 
when  gayety  is  pictured  on  my  countenance,  something 
else  than  gayety  is  in  my  heart.  I feel  very  unhappy 
generally,  though  I may  appear  to  others  to  be  very 
cheerful,  and  perhaps  happy.  But  who  can  be  happy 
without  religion?  No  one.  Then  why  does  not  that 
consideration  alone  lead  me  to  give  up  my  heart  to  God  ? 
is  a question  which  rises  in  my  mind.  I can  not  an- 
swer it.” 

In  February,  1841,  he  learned  the  death  of  Lucy 
Thurston,  who  was  his  youthful  playmate  at  the  islands, 
and  who  only  returned  to  the  United  States  to  die.  This 
much  affected  him,  and  seems  to  have  been  blessed  to  his 
spiritual  good. 

In  March,  1841,  he  writes: 

“ Dear  Father  and  Mother  : — I hope  there  has 
been  a change  in  my  feelings.  I hope  that  now  I can 
look  up  to  God  as  my  Father , to  Christ  as  my  Saviour 
and  Redeemer.  How  strange  that  I should  not  have  em- 
braced him  before  as  my  Saviour,  that  I should  not 


364 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


instantly  have  embraced  Christ  on  such  terms  as  he  has 
offered  in  the  gospel.  0,  how  strange ! And  yet  it  is 
so.  How  true  it  is  that  the  carnal  mind  is  enmity 
against  God!  0 how  strange  that  I should  have  re- 
fused Christ,  when  he  had  so  much  love  as  to  die  for 
me  I I hope  it  will  be  my  employ  for  ever  to  serve 
him  and  his  cause ; that  now  I may  be  the  humble  in- 
strument in  his  hands  to  turn  many  to  God.  0 that  I 
may  be  able  to  do  something  for  him  who  has  done 
so  much  for  me ! Love,  infinite  love,  shall  be  my 
theme.” 

He  became  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Cannonsburg  in  1841. 

After  his  graduation  he  served  as  tutor  for  a year  in 
the  family  of  William  Buchanan,  near  Wheeling,  Ya. 
He  then  met  his  father  at  New  York,  on  his  second  visit 
to  the  United  States.  After  spending  some  time  in  travel 
with  his  father,  he  entered  Union  Theological  Seminary, 
at  New  York,  in  October  1843. 

While  here  he  was  led  to  reconsecrate  himself  to  God 
and  the  service  of  Christ.  He  writes  to  his  parents,  No- 
vember 3d,  1846:  “I  drop  now  this  subject,  and  turn 
to  another  of  more  importance.  I wish  I had  more  time 
to  write  upon  it.  In  my  last  letter,  I spoke  briefly  on 
the  subject  of  my  future  field  of  labor.  I feel  that  I 
ought  to  speak  more  freely  on  this  point.  I doubt  not  it 
will  be  painful  to  you,  a trial  to  your  feelings,  a dis- 
appointment of  your  cherished  hopes,  that  I should 
select,  or  rather  that  I should  be  directed  to  any  other 
field,  than  my  own  home  in  the  isles  of  the  sea.  I dare 
not  dwell  long  on  this,  for  I think  I can  form  some  con- 


RICHARDS. 


365 


ception  of  what  your  feelings  would  be  in  such  a case, 
nor  can  I trust  the  influence  of  my  natural  feelings  on 
the  calmer  and  more  unbiased  decisions  of  my  mind. 
But,  my  dear  parents,  I think  I know  you  well  enough 
to  believe,  that  however  trying  it  may  be,  you  will  ever 
rejoice  in  the  will  of  God.  I have,  my  dear  parents, 
committed  my  way  to  the  Lord,  both  in  trust,  and  in 
consecration  to  his  service,  and  in  submission  to  his  will. 
The  Lord  will  guide  me.  If  I go  to  the  islands  of  the 
sea,  it  will  be  because  it  is  his  will.  If  I go  to  China,  or 
to  India,  or  to  Africa,  his  hand  will  have  led  me  thither. 
The  consciousness  of  his  guidance  and  presence  shall 
strengthen  and  encourage  me  though  I be  called  to  walk 
through  the  valley  and  the  shadow  of  death.  You 
will  ask  me  how  my  feelings  have  become  changed.  I 
will  answer  briefly.  The  Lord  of  his  free  mercy  brought 
me  to  the  knowledge  of  his  love,  through  faith  in  him, 
as  I have  never  known  it  before.  He  led  me  to  cast  my- 
self into  his  hands,  to  be  fashioned  and  guided  by  his 
will.  He  led  me  then  to  consecrate  myself  to  him,  with 
a consecration  unknown  before.  The  world  was  the  field 
of  his  service  before  me — not  one  spot  on  it.  * * * 

My  mind  is  now  inclined  to  China,  more  than  to  any  other 
field.  It  is  one  where  laborers  are  most  needed ; the  lan- 
guage, I think  I could  learn  with  less  difficulty,  than 
many  experience ; the  climate,  I believe  would  agree 
with  my  health  better  than  a warmer  one  ; the  field  for 
doing  good  seems  greater  than  elsewhere ; and  if  more 
trials  are  to  be  endured  there  than  elsewhere,  I rejoice  in 
them.” 

He  offered  himself  to  the  American  Board,  to  go  any- 


366 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


where  they  might  send  him,  and  in  the  spring  of  1847 
he  was  appointed  to  join  their  mission  at  Fuh  Chau, 
China.  Mr.  Richards  was  ordained,  October  14th,  at 
Brooklyn,  at  the  church  of  which  he  was  a member,  and 
of  which  the  Rey.  Mr.  Speer  was  pastor.  His  brothers 
and  sisters,  then  in  the  United  States,  there  met  him  for 
a last  farewell.  He  then  proceeded  to  Philadelphia, 
where  he  embarked  for  China,  in  the  ship  Valparaiso,  in 
company  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cummings,  November  11th,  1847. 

They  landed  at  Hong  Kong,  where  the  compiler  made 
the  acquaintance  of  the  newly  arrived  missionary  band, 
and  was  particularly  struck  with  the  youthful  face,  yet 
manly  form  and  heavenly  mind,  of  him  whose  name  is 
now  before  us.  Here,  too,  we  were  called  to  sympathize 
with  our  young  brother,  as  among  the  first  items  of  in- 
telligence he  received  after  coming  on  shore,  was  the 
death  of  his  revered  father,  at  the  Sandwich  Islands. 
He  had  ended  his  mission  and  gone  to  his  reward  before 
receiving  the  last  letter  written  by  his  son  in  America. 

Leaving  Hong  Kong  Mr.  Richards  reached  Fuh  Chau 
May  7,  1848,  and  gave  himself  at  once  to  the  study  of 
the  language,  in  which  he  progressed  with  greater  success 
than  many  others,  and  procured  a place  where  he  con- 
tinued to  preach  Jesus  to  the  people.  After  a brief  but 
highly  promising  career  of  about  three  years  from  the 
time  he  left  the  United  States,  in  September,  1850,  he 
suffered  an  attack  of  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs.  His 
physician  proposed  a sea  voyage  as  the  only  hope  of 
prolonging  life.  He  left  Fuh  Chau  November  12,  1850, 
and  after  touching  at  Amoy  he  spent  a little  time  at 


RICHARDS. 


367 


Hong  l^ong,  where  we  well  remember  bis  faltering  step, 
and  feeble  voice  and  fearful  cougli — but  more  than  all, 
his  lustrous  eye  and  heavenly  mind  which  seemed  strug- 
gling to  part  the  feeble  tenure  which  bound  him  to  earth. 
He  proceeded  to  Canton,  where,  on  the  5th  of  January, 
1851,  he  embarked  for  the  United  States  on  the  ship  Sea, 
in  company  with  the  Rev.  George  Loomis,  seaman’s  chap- 
lain at  Whampoa. 

They  had  a somewhat  stormy  and  tedious  passage,  and 
Mr.  Richards  continued  to  fail,  but  his  warm  sympathies 
for  missionary  friends  and  missionary  work,  find  expres- 
sion in  glowing  language  so  long  as  his  feeble  hand 
could  hold  his  pen.  When  too  weak  to  record  his  own 
thoughts,  Mr.  Loomis  writes  for  him,  and  then  adds : 

“ Before  enclosing  the  last  words  of  our  dear  brother 
Richards,  I write  a few  lines  at  his  request. 

“He  has  been  constantly  failing  since  we  left  Hong 
Kong,  and  in  all  human  probability  will  not  live  to 
reach  his  native  land.  He  is  so  weak  that  he  can  not 
raise  himself  up  in  his  bed.  He  has  given  up  all  hope 
of  recovery.  His  hope  is  in  God.  He  told  me  on  Sun- 
day that  he  would  like  to  live  to  see  his  mother  once 
more,  for  her  sake  more  than  for  his  own.  It  is  matter 
of  great  joy  that  he  seems  so  resigned  to  the  will  of  God, 
that  he  reposes  with  so  much  confidence  in  the  Saviour, 
and  entertains  so  strong  a hope  of  a blissful  immortality. 
Having  been  associated  so  long  and  intimately  with 
brother  Richards,  I can  fully  sympathize  with  you  in 
your  loss,  and  can  only  commend  you  to  God  and  the 
grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  praying  that  in  God’s 


368 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


time  we  may  meet  our  brother  in  onr  Father’s  house 
above.  I am  your  sympathizing  brother, 

“George  Loomis.” 

The  next  letter  is  dated  at  sea,  south  latitude  16°  22', 
west  longitude  4°  24',  near  St.  Helena,  June  5,  1851. 

“ To  the  brethren  at  Fuh  Chau : I feel  it  to  be  my 
duty,  though  a painful  one,  to  announce  to  you  that  this 
afternoon  we  committed  the  remains  of  our  dear  brother 
Kichards  to  the  deep,  there  to  rest  till  the  sea  shall  give 
up  its  dead.  This  morning  about  ten  o’clock  he  breathed 
his  l ist.  I mourn  a brother  in  Christ  departed.  A solemn 
sadness  pervades  our  ship.  Wednesday  he  sent  his  dying 
message  to  his  mother,  brothers,  and  sisters.  To  me  it 
was  a most  sad  duty  to  pen  these  last  words  so  full  of 
affectionate  regard.  Eighteen  hours  after,  he  slept  in 
death.  God  grant  that  this  dispensation  may  be  sancti- 
fied to  our  spiritual  and  eternal  good. 

“Yours  in  Christ, 

“George  Loomis.” 


SHUCK. 

Mrs.  Henrietta  Shuck,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Addi- 
son Hall,  was  a native  of  Kilmarnock,  Ya.  She  was 
married  to  Rev.  J.  Lewis  Shuck  in  1835 — the  eighteenth 
year  of  her  age — and  in  September  of  the  same  year 
sailed  for  India  with  her  husband,  in  company  with  Dr. 
Malcom,  Sutton,  Reed,  Abbot,  and  others.  They  paused 


SHUCK. 


369 


at  the  mouth  of  the  Hoogly,  to  land  some  of  their  pas- 
sengers for  Orissa,  and  passed  on  to  Burmali,  where  they 
stayed  a few  days  with  the  missionaries  at  Maul  main,  and 
proceeded  to  Singapore,  where  they  remained  for  four 
months.  They  reached  Macao  in  September,  1836,  and 
from  thence  removed  to  Hong  Kong  in  March,  1842. 
While  at  Macao,  they  engaged  in  studying  the  language, 
instructing  the  youth,  and  teaching  the  people.  On  their 
arrival  at  Hong  Kong,  they  were  allowed  to  renew  their 
labors  on  an  enlarged  scale,  and  without  restraint.  Chapels 
were  erected,  worshiping  assemblies  collected,  and  schools 
gathered  from  the  Chinese ; and  while  her  husband  la- 
bored among  the  former,  Mrs.  Shuck  superintended  the 
instruction  of  the  latter.  She  possessed  considerable 
knowledge  of  the  written  language,  and  still  greater  fa- 
miliarity with  the  colloquial  of  the  Chinese,  and  devoted 
joyfully  and  successfully  her  acquirements,  time,  and 
talents  to  the  interests  of  the  mission.  During  the  last 
year  of  her  life,  a new  school  house  had  been  erected, 
and  a school  gathered  under  her  care  of  twenty  Chinese 
boys  and  six  girls,  besides  her  own  four  children,  mak- 
ing a school  of  thirty  under  her  training.  In  this  work 
she  took  the  greatest  interest,  and  all  the  time  and 
strength  she  could  spare  from  the  care  of  her  family,  were 
joyfully  devoted  to  the  instruction  of  the  children  of 
the  heathen.  Her  prospects  of  usefulness  had  never  been 
greater,  and  her  heart  had  never  been  more  encouraged, 
than  during  the  last  year  of  her  life.  But  in  the  midst 
of  her  highest  hopes,  while  children  were  seeking  in- 
struction, the  heathen  were  inquiring  the  way  to  Christ, 
and  the  general  prospects  of  the  mission  were  brighten- 

16* 


370 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ing,  and  herself  in  comfortable  health  and  active  life, 
she  was  cut  down  in  a single  night,  and  her  family  over- 
whelmed with  grief,  and  the  mission  again  overshadowed 
with  gloom.  The  writer  of  this  was  walking  with  her 
on  the  verandah  of  her  dwelling  at  nine  o’clock  in  the 
evening,  engaged  in  animated  and  joyous  conversation 
concerning  the  interests  of  our  mission,  and  the  pleasing 
prospects  of  our  work,  and  was  awakened  from  sleep 
during  the  same  night  with  the  startling  announcement 
of  her  death ! 

Mrs.  Shuck  left  her  native  land  in  the  eighteenth  year 
of  her  age,  and  by  giving  thus  the  freshness  of  her  youth 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  and  the  good  of  the  heathen,  has 
left  us  the  best  proof  of  the  purity  of  her  faith,  and  the 
sincerity  of  her  piety.  "During  her  eight  years’  residence 
in  China,  she  did  much  for  the  happiness  of  her  family, 
and  to  aid  her  husband  in  his  work,  besides  giving  much 
direct  instruction  to  those  around  her.  Her  house  was  ever 
open  to  the  stranger,  and  her  heart  ever  sympathized  with 
the  needy  and  the  afflicted,  while  her  hands  were  dili- 
gently employed  in  acts  of  kindness  and  charity.  She 
has  finished  her  course,  and  entered  upon  her  rest ; she 
has  ended  her  sorrows,  and  entered  upon  her  songs.  She 
was  one  of  the  bright  examples  of  devotion  for  the 
world’s  welfare,  and  now  shines  in  the  glorious  galaxy 
in  the  Saviour’s  diadem. 

Mr.  Shuck  came  to  the  United  States  with  his  mother- 
less children  in  1846,  and  in  1847  returned  to  China, 
accompanied  by  the  second  Mrs.  Shuck,  a lady  of  great 
excellence  of  character,  and  a worthy  successor  of  her 
sainted  predecessor.  They  were  stationed  at  Shanghae, 


SOUTHWELL. 


371 


where  Mrs.  Shuck  gave  herself  with  cheerful  and  self- 
denying  zeal  to  the  work  of  the  mission,  and  where  she 
found  an  early  grave. 


SOUTHWELL. 

Rev.  B.  Southwell,  a missionary  of  the  London 
Missionary  Society,  reached  China  per  the  ship  Monarch, 
August  26th,  1847.  He  came  in  company  with  the  Rev. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Muirhead,  and  Mr.  Wylie.  Mr.  Southwell 
was  a preacher  of  great  promise,  and  was  regarded,  by 
those  who  knew  him  best,  as  a man  of  rare  attainments. 
Ho  one  could  associate  with  him  long,  or  listen  even  to  a 
single  one  of  his  sermons,  without  being  conscious  of 
his  charming  spirit  and  mental  strength.  He  was  de- 
servedly much  esteemed,  much  loved,  and  very  high  ex- 
pectations were  entertained  regarding  his  future  useful- 
ness. To  whatever  he  put  his  hand,  his  whole  soul  went 
with  it ; neither  was  withdrawn  till  some  lasting  and  favor- 
able impression  was  made.  With  much  gentleness,  there 
was  blended  great  intensity  of  action.  He  worked  with 
all  his  might.  His  mental  labor  was  too  much  for  his 
physical  frame.  We  saw  him  at  his  field  of  labor,  and 
heard  him  preach,  and  enjoyed  a brief  but  blessed  ac- 
quaintance with  the  man  whose  previous  course  of  study 
had  undermined  his  physical  constitution,  and  unfitted 
him  for  the  toils  and  exposures  of  a heathen  land,  but 
whose  intellectual  and  heart  cultivatiou,  had  prepared 
him  for  the  heavenly  world.  His  heart  was  fixed  upon 
the  enterprise,  but  his  body  was  too  feeble  for  the 


372 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


demands  made  upon  it.  He  relaxed  his  studies  and 
sought  recreation,  still  firm  health  was  wanting,  and 
instead  of  gaining  strength  and  becoming  acclimated,  he 
grew  weaker,  and  was  less  able  to  withstand  disease. 
That  disease  refused  to  yield  to  medical  treatment,  and 
in  a few  days  terminated  fatally.  He  died  at  Shanghae, 
September  6th,  1849. 


SPAULDING. 

The  Rev.  Phineas  D.  Spaulding,  a missionary  of 
the  American  Episcopal  Missionary  Society,  reached 
Shanghae,  August  24th,  1847.  He  had  been  a success- 
ful pastor  in  the  United  States,  and  there  had  the  plea- 
sure of  leading  souls  to  Christ.  On  reaching  China,  he 
marked  out  his  course,  and  with  method  and  self-sacrific- 
ing zeal,  gave  himself  to  his  work.  He  selected  one 
thousand  of  the  more  common  characters  of  the  language, 
and  committed  them  to  memory.  He  then  commenced 
going  among  the  people,  using  what  sentences  he  had 
learned,  and  adding  to  his  stock  till  he  soon  looked  up- 
on a circle  of  acquaintances  among  the  Chinese  as  his 
friends.  He  afterward  commenced  preaching  as  far  as 
he  was  able,  and  opened  a Bible  class  among  the  poor,  to 
whom  he  distributed  the  alms  collected  at  the  sacra- 
mental services  in  the  mission  to  which  he  belonged.  In 
this  delightful  course,  his  zeal  and  love  for  the  people  led 
him  to  presume  too  much  on  his  robust  constitution.  In 
study  and  preaching,  he  labored  hard.  Too  many  hours 
were  spent  in  daily  poring  over  the  written  characters, 


SPEER. 


373 


and  the  tax  proved  too  severe  hoth  for  his  mental  and 
physical  powers.  At  length  he  took  a cold,  which  re- 
sulted in  what  was  regarded  the  incipient  stages  of  con- 
sumption, and  his  medical  counsel  recommended  a sea 
voyage  as  the  only  means  promising  a cure.  He  there- 
fore embarked  for  Hong  Kong,  on  board  the  Coquette, 
August  30th,  1849.  This  vessel  was  never  heard  of 
afterwards,  and  it  is  supposed  that  our  brother  and  all  on 
board  found  a grave  in  the  sea.  One  of  the  members  of 
his  China  Bible  class  has  since  joined  the  church  of  Grod, 
and  all  who  knew  him  found  him  a personal  exemplifi- 
cation of  the  gospel  he  taught. 


SPEER. 

Mrs.  Cornelia  Speer,  wife  of  Rev.  William  Speer, 
and  daughter  of  Alexander  Breckenridge,  Esq.,  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania,  U.  S.  A.,  left  the  United  States  in 
company  with  her  husband,  July  20th,  and  reached  China 
December  26tb,  1846,  and  died  at  Macao  in  the  following 
April.  The  symptoms  of  the  disease  which  carried  her 
to  an  early  grave,  made  their  appearance  on  the  voyage. 
She  died  peacefully  in  the  full  hope  of  a blessed  immor- 
tality, resting  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  Saviour  of 
sinners. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Speer  went  to  China  under  the  patronage 
of  the  American  Presbyterian  Board  of  Foreign  Missions. 
Their  infant  daughter,  aged  five  months,  died  but  three 
months  after  her  mother,  and  both  mother  and  child 


374 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


found  a resting  place,  side  by  side,  in  the  Protestant 
burying  ground  at  Macao. 

Mrs.  Speer  was  gifted  with  an  excellent  understanding, 
which  had  been  cultivated  under  the  influences  of  the 
best  circles  of  society,  and  being  adorned  with  the  graces 
of  the  Spirit,  she  was  a woman  of  singular  loveliness  of 
character,  and  of  no  ordinary  promise  of  usefulness  in 
her  chosen  work.  She  welcomed  the  toils  and  trials  of 
life  among  the  heathen,  and  was  prepared  to  receive  her 
Lord’s  invitation,  “ come  up  higher.”  In  the  language 
of  one  of  the  same  mission,  who  has  since  gone  to  join 
her  in  the  triumphs  of  heaven,  “ our  departed  sister  was 
enabled  to  leave  a blessed-  testimony  that  God  was  true. 
She  contemplated  the  approach  of  death  without  alarm, 
and  even  with  joy.  The  last  words  she  uttered  were, 
‘ I am  going  home.’  ” 


STE  YEN'S. 

Rev.  Edward  Stevens,  a missionary  of  the  American 
Board  to  the  Chinese,  died  at  Singapore,  January  5th, 
1837,  aged  thirty -four  years.  He  was  born  and  received 
his  early  education  in  New  Canaan,  Connecticut.  In 
1824  he  entered  Yale  College,  and  graduated  with  high 
honors  in  1828.  He  then  spent  a year  at  Aurora,  New 
York,  as  principal  of  an  academy.  Near  the  close  of 
1829  he  returned  to  New  Haven,  and  joined  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary ; was  tutor  in  college  in  1831-2,  and  in 
April,  1832,  accepted  an  appointment  from  the  American 
Seaman’s  Friend  Society,  as  chaplain  at  the  port  of  Can- 


STEVENS. 


375 


ton.  He  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  at  Hew 
Haven,  June  7,  1832,  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month 
embarked  at  Philadelphia  for  China,  in  the  ship  Morri- 
son, and  reached  Canton  October  26th.  He  served  as 
chaplain  till  March,  1836,  when,  according  to  an  engage- 
ment made  before  leaving  America,  he  entered  the  ser- 
vice of  the  American  Board  of  Missions.  He,  however, 
continued  to  preach  at  Whampoa  till  a few  weeks  before 
his  death. 

Of  his  childhood  and  academic  career,  we  know  but 
little,  but  from  the  various  appointments  and  diplomas 
he  received,  it  is  evident  that  he  held  a high  rank  among 
his  fellow-students.  Mathematics,  and  the  Latin  and 
Greek  languages,  were  his  favorite  studies.  It  was  not 
till  near  the  close  of  his  collegiate  life  that  he  gave  se- 
rious attention  to  religion,  having,  as  he  says,  previously 
lived  a very  careless  and  unprofitable  life.  The  change 
in  his  sentiments  and  conduct,  was  as  life  from  the  dead. 
To  do  good  to  others,  and  not  merely  to  enjoy  life  him- 
self, now  became  the  chief  object  of  his  attention — an 
object  which  he  steadily  pursued  to  the  end  of  life. 

During  his  stay  in  China  he  made  encouraging  prog- 
ress in  the  Chinese  language,  and  in  his  own  language  he 
was  a good  preacher  and  had  the  pen  of  a ready  writer. 
He  possessed  a lively  imagination,  a keen  sensibility  and 
a large  share  of  common  sense.  To  strangers  he  might 
appear  austere  and  unsocial,  but  while  he  might  be  re- 
served he  was  ever  kind  and  courteous.  His  gentleman- 
ly bearing  and  manly  form,  his  grave  countenance  and 
dark  eye  might  awaken  respect  and  tempt  to  reserve, 
but  his  warm  heart  and  tender  sympathies  for  the  suf- 


376 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


ferer  awakened  confidence  and  made  him  the  chosen 
counselor  of  the  afflicted.  He  received  some  marked 
expressions  of  esteem  from  the  commanders  of  ships 
trading  with  China,  whose  acquaintance  he  made  at 
Whampoa.  He  resided  at  Canton,  but  visited  Whampoa 
every  Sabbath.  His  labors  chiefly  were  preaching,  dis- 
tributing Bibles  and  tracts,  visiting  the  sick  and  burying 
the  dead.  He  usually  preached  from  notes,  sometimes 
full  and  complete,  but  oftener  containing  merely  the 
heads  of  his  discourse.  Many  of  these  notes  he  left 
among  his  private  papers,  and  they  show  the  tenor  of 
his  preaching.  The  topics  on  which  he  most  frequently 
discoursed  were  repentance,  faith,  holiness,  in  a word, 
"Christ,  and  him  crucified!”  Some  of  his  favorite  texts 
were  these  : “For  what  is  a man  profited  if  he  gain  the 
whole  world  and  lose  his  own  soul?”  “follow  peace  with 
all  men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord  “ how  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great 
salvation  ?”  “ for  whatsoever  a man  soweth  that  shall  he 
also  reap  “ choose  you  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve 
“ the  word  of  the  Lord  is  tried.” 

From  his  sermon  on  this  last  passage  we  quote  the 
concluding  paragraph  as  a fair  specimen  of  the  usual 
style  of  his  preaching.  After  briefly  explaining  the  text 
and  illustrating  its  truth  by  citing  a great  variety  of  ap- 
posite facts,  he  then  says : 

“In  conclusion  I remark,  the  word  of  the  Lord  has 
been  thoroughly  tried  in  all  ways.  It  has  been  tried  by 
history,  and  not  found  wanting.  It  has  been  tried  by 
astronomy,  by  geology,  by  argument  and  by  ridicule. 
It  has  been  tried  during  thousands  of  years  by  every 


STEVENS. 


377 


man  -who  pleased  in  any  way  he  chose ; by  all  the  learn- 
ing which  could  be  brought  against  it ; by  the  conceited 
and  the  ignorant;  by  friends  and  foes;  by  him  that 
believeth  and  him  that  believeth  not.  It  has  stood  all 
trials,  and  now  remains  in  our  hands  with  daily  increas- 
ing evidence  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  shall  stand.  Be- 
sides the  direct  evidence  of  the  divine  origin  of  this  book, 
the  unrivaled  number  and  variety  of  ordeals  through 
which  it  has  successfully  passed  are  enough  to  commend 
it  to  our  attention  as  a record  of  perfect  and  tried  truth. 
After  all  this  it  can  not  be  too  much  to  ask  that  it  be 
regarded  as  of  undoubted  veracity,  that  every  word  will 
exactly  come  to  pass.  And  if  indeed  it  be  so,  what  will 
be  our  condition  ? That  word  records  the  establishment 
of  religion  in  the  world  and  the  promulgation  of  the 
law  of  God,  which  condemns  us  for  sin ; it  describes 
the  atonement  of  Christ  by  which  a sacrifice  and  media- 
tor is  offered  to  men,  and  the  way  in  which  the  bless- 
ings of  this  salvation  become  our  own  by  a spiritual 
change  of  heart  and  supreme  devotion  to  the  will  of 
God  during  this  life;  and  it  makes  known  to  us-  the 
promise  of  a resurrection  of  the  body,  of  our  immortal- 
ity, of  the  judgment  day,  of  the  sentence  of  everlasting 
punishment  upon  the  impenitent,  and  of  eternal  forgive- 
ness and  blessedness  upon  the  servants  of  God.  It  assures 
us  that  this  life  is  the  accepted  time  to  attend  to  the  sal- 
vation of  the  soul,  and  that  we  must  strive  to  enter  the 
strait  gate,  because  many  seeking  it  too  late  will  never 
enter  in.  The  promises  of  happiness  and  threatenings  of 
misery  are  all  true.” 

In  the  autumn  of  1833  he  established  a Bible  class, 


378 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


attended  by  twenty  or  thirty  seamen.  He  was  faithful 
in  his  dissuasions  from  intoxicating  drinks,  urging  it  as 
bis  conviction  that  most  of  the  difficulties  on  board  ship, 
and  most  of  the  sickness  and  deaths  at  Whampoa,  were 
occasioned  by  intemperance. 

On  the  3d  of  December,  1836,  he  embarked  at  Macao, 
on  the  Himmalab,  Captain  Fraser,  for  a cruise  in  the  In- 
dian Archipelago,  and  reached  Singapore  on  the  15th  of 
the  same  month.  Soon  after  landing  he  complained  of 
headache  and  fever,  but  described  the  sensation  in  the 
head  as  a pressure,  not  a pain.  His  friends  soon  became 
anxious  for  the  issue;  but  he  calmly  spoke  of  the  time  in 
which  he  made  his  peace  with  God  and  preparation  for 
death.  His  fever  was  an  insidious  intermittent,  which, 
by  varying  frowns  and  smiles,  kept  the  physicians  at 
bay — till  after  alternating  through  a mazy  course  of 
symptoms,  it  carried  him  off  by  an  effusion  on  the  brain, 
at  a moment  when  all  around  him  fondly  thought  they 
saw  the  dawn  of  a happy  restoration.  His  physician 
adds:  “ He  was  like  a child  in  the  hands  of  God,  and  it 
was  a privilege  to  meet  the  wants  and  smooth  the  dying 
pillow  of  such  a patient.” 


STROM ACH. 

Mrs.  Stronach,  the  wife  of  the  Rev.  John  Stronach, 
left  England  with  her  husband  on  a mission  to  the  Chi- 
nese, in  1838,  under  the  direction  of  the  London  Mis- 
sionary Society.  They  were  first  stationed  at  Singapore, 
where  they  prosecuted  their  studies  and  labors  till  the 


WENTWORTH. 


379 


opening  of  China,  when  they  removed  to  Amoy.  On 
the  19th  of  November,  1845,  Mrs.  Stronach,  leaving  her 
husband  in  China,  embarked  with  her  four  children  for 
England,  with  the  hope  that  a visit  to  her  native  laud 
would  restore  her  to  the  enjoyment  of  health,  and  enable 
her  soon  to  rejoin  her  husband  in  his  important  sphere 
of  labor.  The  long  sickness  and  many  privations  which 
she  had  endured  in  the  missionary  field,  had  exhausted 
the  energies  of  her  constitution,  and  she  was  not  priv- 
ileged to  behold  again  the  shores  which  eight  years  be- 
fore she  had  left  on  her  mission  of  love  to  the  heathen. 

On  the  7th  of  March,  more  than  a month  before  the 
conclusion  of  the  voyage,  her  life  on  earth  was  ended, 
and  she  entered  upon  the  joy  of  her  Lord.  There  was 
much  in  her  circumstances  to  depress  her  mind.  Sep- 
arated from  her  devoted  husband — suffering  from  dis- 
ease in  various  forms — expecting  soon  to  resign  the 
guardianship  of  her  dear  children — she  felt  that  all  these 
things  were  against  her ; but  underneath  her  were  the 
everlasting  arms,  and  she  possessed  her  soul  in  peace. 
Her  cheerful  smile,  and  gentle  words,  and  prudent  coun- 
sels, and  kind  heart,  eminently  fitted  her  for  the  duties 
of  the  companion  and  mother,  and  enabled  her  in  a high 
degree  to  render  her  house  the  home  of  happiness. 


WENTWOBTH. 

Mrs.  Anna  M.  Wentworth,  the  daughter  of  J.  J. 
Lewis,  Esq.,  and  wife  of  Bev.  Dr.  Wentworth,  was  born 
at  Westchester,  Pa.,  Juue  11th,  1829.  Her  footprint  is 


380 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


seen  in  China,  as  she  stepped  there,  on  her  way  to 
heaven. 

She  had  been  trained  under  the  happy  influences  of 
refinement  and  piety,  which,  under  the  Spirit’s  power, 
resulted  in  the  development  of  practical  personal  Chris- 
tianity. On  her  fourteenth  anniversary,  June  11th, 
1843,  she  put  on  Christ,  and  became  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  She  early  discovered  a mis- 
sionary spirit,  viz.,  the  spirit  of  Christ  reduced  to  prac- 
tice. The  circulation  of  subscription  papers  for  the  cause 
of  benevolence,  visitations  to  the  sick,  ministrations  to 
the  poor,  instructions  to  the  ignorant,  and  a sympathy  for 
the  afflicted,  engrossed  her  girlhood,  while  others  of  her 
age  were  seeking  amusement.  She  excelled  as  a scholar, 
she  was  accomplished  as  a musician,  faithful  in  the  Sab- 
bath School,  and  active  in  every  department  of  Christian 
benevolence.  In  writing  to  her  father,  while  teaching 
school  in  Maryland,  she  gives  as  a reason  for  continuing, 
“ My  wants  are  increasing.  I want  money — not  only  to 
spend,  but  also  to  give  away.  I am  interested  for  the 
church,  in  the  missionary  cause,  the  Sabbath  School,  etc., 
and  I know  of  no  way  of  really  giving  money,  but  first 
to  earn  it.” 

The  following  may  give  us  some  idea  of  her  feelings 
in  relation  to  the  great  work  of  missionary  life.  On  the 
30th  of  August,  1854,  she  wrote  as  follows  : 

“ Yesterday  morning  Dr.  W.  left  us,  and  I have  had 
two  days  to  review  the  strange  events  of  the  past  few 
weeks.  Who  could  have  believed  that  so  short  a time 
could  have  so  changed  all  my  prospects  and  plans  ? 
Judging  from  the  dictates  of  human  wisdom,  it  seems 


WENTWORTH. 


381 


most  rash  to  allow  so  short  a time  to  decide  matters  of 

so  great  moment But  as  I try  to  bring  a calm 

judgment  to  sit  npon  my  decisions,  I can  not  find  any 
thing  to  regret.  And  why  should  I regret  it?  Have  I 
not  many  times  asked  the  Lord  to  direct  all  my  paths? 
and  shall  I not  believe  that  he  will  do  it?  Have  I not 
for  years,  asked,  ‘Lord,  what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?’ 
And  when,  by  this  providence,  he  seems  to  have  laid  a 
noble  work  before  me,  shall  I refuse  to  enter  upon  it  ? 
Bather  I will  thankfully  acknowledge  the  goodness  that 
has  chosen  me  for  a post  of  such  exalted  honor ; and 
while  I feel,  in  the  depth  of  my  nature,  my  unfitness  for 
the  work,  I will  implicitly  confide  in  the  wisdom  and 
grace  that  are  able  to  ordain  praise  from  the  weakest  of 
his  creatures.  I know  it  is  a great  undertaking,  and  I 
want  to  be  able  rationally  to  count  the  cost,  and  yet  not 
to  harass  myself  with  needless  fears.  There  must,  of 
course,  be  privation  and  toil.  I must  leave  friends  who 
have  seemed  almost  as  necessary  to  my  life  as  the  air  I 
have  breathed ; but  my  heart  goes  out  in  thankfulness 
to  God,  that,  while  he  has  called  me  to  leave  much,  he 
has  given  me  a strong  arm  and  a noble  heart  to  lean 
upon.  In  this  I recognize  a pledge  of  what  he  will  do 
for  me.  Already  he  has  given  me  an  earthly  guide,  and 
counselor,  and  teacher,  and  I feel  sure  that  all  his  influ- 
ence will  be  to  exalt  and  ennoble  me,  and  make  me  more 
worthy  of  him,  and  the  cause  to  which  we  have  conse- 
crated our  lives.” 

She  was  united  in  marriage  to  Dr.  Wentworth,  Octo- 
ber 31st,  1854.  They  sailed  from  Hew  York  for  China 
January  8th,  1855,  and  after  a voyage  of  a hundred  and 
thirty-seven  days,  they  reached  Hong  Kong. 


382 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


In  a letter  to  her  sister,  dated  China  Sea.,  May  28, 
1855,  when  nearing  Hong  Kong,  she  writes : 

“I  am  not  certain  that  I am  quite  in  my  sober  senses 
this  morning,  or  that  I shall  be  able  to  write  any  thing 
that  a sensible  woman  will  care  to  read ; but  we  are  near- 
ing Hong  Kong,  and  as  we  can  not  tell  bow  much  or  bow 
little  time  we  may  have  there  for  writing,  I want  to  make 
sure  of  the  matter  and  have  a few  letters  ready  for  the 
mail  before  we  anchor.  I have  in  part  explained  to 
you  the  cause  of  my  unusual  excitement,  ‘ nearing  Hong 
Kong.’  After  spending  one  hundred  and  thirty -five 
days  on  the  heaving  ocean,  subject  to  the  dangers  and 
discomforts  of  sea  life,  the  idea  of  being  again  on  shore, 
surrounded  by  something  like  home  comfort,  is  itself 
exciting.  But  when  you  remember  that  land  is  China, 
the  land  so  long  looked  to,  so  long  hoped  for,  our  future 
home,  or  perhaps  our  grave,  you  will  not  wonder  that 
the  thought  of  being  within  fifty  miles  of  it  makes  the 
pulse  beat  more  quickly,  and  sends  to  the  heart  a strange 
thrill.” 

While  at  Hong  Kong  they  were  entertained  by  the 
Bev.  Mr.  Johnson,  of  the  American  Baptist  mission, 
where  they  remained  for  two  weeks  waiting  for  an  op- 
portunity to  go  up  to  Fuh  Chau. 

On  the  7th  of  June  they  embarked  on  board  the  Spit- 
fire, an  American  clipper,  for  the  end  of  their  vojmge,  still 
five  hundred  miles  distant. 

Her  next  was  dated  Fuh  Chau,  June  20,  1855,  and 
gives  a pleasing  description  of  their  arrival  and  reception 
by  their  friends. 

But  little  more  than  three  months  from  this  joyous 


WHILDEN. 


383 


landing  it  was  recorded,  that  “ about  eleven  o’clock  at 
night,  on  the  2d  of  October,  1855,  at  the  house  of  Rev. 
Mr.  Maclay,  Full  Chau,  China,  Anna  M.  Wentworth  ceased 
to  suffer  upon  earth,  and  ascended  to  her  rest  in  heaven, 
in  the  twenty-seventh  year  of  her  age.” 

One  writing  from  there  says  : 

“We  were  very  glad  to  welcome  her  to  our  missionary 
circle,  not  for  a moment  thinking  that,  like  a ray  of  sun- 
light, she  would  shine  upon  us  and  then  be  gone  for  ever. 
But  so  it  was.” 

“ Blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord.  Yea, 
saith  the  Spirit,  for  they  rest  from  their  labors,  and  their 
works  do  follow  them.” 


WHILDEN.  . 

Mrs.  Eliza  J.  Whilden,  wife  of  Rev.  B.  W.  Whil- 
den,  connected  with  the  Southern  Baptist  Convention, 
died  at  Canton,  February  20th,  1850.  Mrs.  Whilden 
was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Robert  and  Mrs.  Jane  Martin, 
of  Union  District,  South  Carolina.  She  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 13th,  1821,  and  made  a profession  of  religion 
in  1840. 

In  1843  she  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rev.  B.  W. 
Whilden,  and  soon  after  removed  to  Camden,  South 
Carolina,  where  they  lived  four  years,  during  which  time 
Mr.  Whilden  was  pastor  of  the  Baptist  church  in  that 
place.  Before  her  marriage,  Mrs.  Whilden  had  cher- 
ished a strong  desire  for  a life  in  the  missionary  field, 
and  in  1848  her  husband,  in  answer  to  her  long-con- 


384 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


tinuel  prayers,  offered  liimself  as  a missionary  to  the 
Chinese. 

An  article  from  the  lamented  Pohlman,  put  into  the 
hands  of  Mr.  Whilden  by  his  wife,  was  greatly  instru- 
mental in  leading  to  this  result.  Mrs.  Whilden,  with 
her  husband  and  children,  sailed  from  New  York,  Octo- 
ber, 1848,  and  reached  Hong  Kong  on  the  13th  of  the 
following  February,  the  anniversary  of  her  birth.  On 
the  23d  of  the  month  she  reached  her  station  at  Canton, 
and  there,  within  one  year  after  her  arrival,  and  just  as 
she  was  preparing  for  active  service,  she  was  called  to  her 
home  in  heaven.  She  did  what  she  could,  and  left  be- 
hind the  fragrance  of  a holy  example,  and  the  memory 
of  a prayerful  woman,  a patient  mother,  a pious  com- 
panion, and  a cheerful  and  consistent  Christian.  She 
enjoyed  the  peaceful  death  which  God  has  coupled  with 
a pious  life.  Such  a memory  is  no  mean  legacy  for  her 
bereaved  husband  and  three  motherless  children.  Her 
grave  is  on  French  Island,  near  Whampoa,  by  the  side 
of  that  of  brother  Clopton  and  Mrs.  Devan,  and  others, 
who  have  from  the  Middle  Kingdom  gone  home  to  the 
true  celestial  country  ; and  when  from  the  millions  of 
China,  the  purchased  of  the  Redeemer  shall  be  gathered 
home  to  glory,  the  sainted  ones,  who  have  prayed,  and 
wept,  and  suffered,  and  served  for  their  salvation,  shall, 
with  no  common  joy,  mingle  with  them  in  the  song, 

“ not  unto  us,  but  to  thy  name  will  we  give  glory.” 


WHITE. 


385 


WHITE  . 

Mbs.  Jane  Isabel  Atwatee  was  born  at  Homer, 
Cortland  county,  New  York,  August  22d,  1822.  Her 
parents  were  from  Connecticut,  and  brought  with  them 
into  New  York  the  principles  and  spirit  of  their  Puritan 
ancestors.  At  the  age  of  four  years  Isabel  lost  her 
mother,  but  still  retained  impressions  of  her  maternal 
fidelity  and  tenderness.  The  memory  of  standing  by 
her  mother’s  dying  bed  and  receiving  her  parting  bless- 
ing, was  cherished  as  she  grew  up  to  mature  years.  Miss 
Atwater’s  education  was  strictly  religious,  and  though 
deprived  of  a mother’s  care,  she  enjoyed  the  influence  and 
instruction  of  a godly  father,  whose  children  grew  up  in  the 
nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  one  son  became  a 
successful  minister  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Is- 
abel knew  not  the  date  of  her  conversion  to  God,  but  in 
early  childhood  she  found  pleasure  in  Christian  duties, 
and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  received  from  her  father  the 
gift  of  a Bible  as  a reward  for  reading  through  the  sa- 
cred volume.  This  she  retained  to  the  day  of  her  death, 
and  the  well-worn  leaves  attest  how  faithfully  she  studied 
the  precious  treasure. 

In  1838,  at  the  age  of  sixteen  years,  she  left  home  to 
attend  school  at  Cazenovia,  New  York,  where  she  re- 
mained till  March  30th,  1840.  While  there  she  made  a 
public  profession  of  religion,  and  became  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Cazenovia,  January 
21st,  1840.  From  that  time  till  the  day  of  her  death, 
she  was  a burning  and  shining  light. 

17 


386 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


During  the  summer  of  1840  she  taught  a public  school 
near  Homer,  and  at  the  close  of  her  term,  she  wrote  in 
her  journal,  “ Truly  this  summer  has  been  to  me  one 
green  spot  on  the  desert  of  life.” 

In  September,  1841,  she  reentered  the  seminary  at 
Cazenovia.  Here  she  developed  strong  sympathies  for 
missionary  service,  and  two  essays  which  she  publicly 
read  in  the  seminary  were  powerful  appeals  for  the  mis- 
sionary cause,  and  fell  like  electric  fire  on  one  whose 
heart  was  already  enlisted  for  the  heathen,  and  who 
afterward  went  to  herald  the  good  news  to  the  pagan 
world.  In  July,  1842,  she  completed  the  regular  course 
of  study,  and  received  the  diploma  of  the  seminary. 

In  the  autumn  of  1842  she  went  to  reside  at  Roches- 
ter, where  she  connected  herself  with  the  Washington 
Bethel  church,  and  was  warmly  enlisted  in  the  service 
of  the  Sabbath  School  and  missionary  work  in  the  city. 
Her  modest,  retiring,  unobtrusive  manners,  coupled  with 
self-denying  activity  and  Christian  cheerfulness,  gave  a 
charm  and  efficiency  to  her  labors,  and  garnered  her 
name  in  the  grateful  memories  of  all  who  knew  her. 

The  Writer,  while  on  a visit  to  this  country  in  1845, 
well  remembers  meeting  Miss  Atwater  at  the  house  of 
her  sister  in  Rochester,  and  of  being  impressed  with  the 
pertinency  of  her  earnest  inquiries  about  China,  her 
chosen  field  of  labor,  while  she  was  then  preparing  her 
outfit  for  the  voyage  and  her  heathen  home.  He  also  had 
the  privilege,  after  his  return  to  China,  to  welcome  her, 
with  her  companion  and  colleagues,  on  their  arrival  in 
that  far-off  land. 

On  the  13th  of  March,  1847,  Miss  Atwater  was  mar- 


WHITE. 


387 


ried  at  Rochester  to  Rev.  M.  C.  White,  by  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Luckey,  and  on  the  15th  of  April  they  sailed  in  the 
Heber,  from  Boston  for  China.  They  were  accom- 
panied by  their  colleague,  Rev.  J.  D.  Collins,  and  by  Rev. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doty,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Talmadge,  of  the 
American  Board  destined  to  Amoy.  A pleasant  and 
prosperous  voyage  landed  them  at  Macao,  August  4, 
1847. 

The  following  letter  to  her  brother,  written  at  Hong 
Kong,  may  give  us  something  of  her  first  impressions  of 
China  : 

“ My  Dear  Brother  : — As  I have  given  a minute 
account  of  our  voyage,  in  letters  that  are  now  en  route , I 
will  only  say  in  this,  that,  with  God’s  blessing,  we  an- 
chored safely  at  Macao  on  the  4th  of  August,  after  a 
voyage  of  a hundred  and  ten  days  from  Boston.  The 
sum  total  of  our  voyage  is,  that  we  had  a pleasant  pas- 
sage, little  sea-sickness,  no  ennui,  a kind  captain,  agree- 
able passengers,  and  no  accidents.  We  stopped  one  day 
at  Macao,  and  left  the  next  for  Whampoa,  the  anchorage 
for  shipping,  about  twelve  miles  below  Canton.  To  ac- 
complish this  trip  we  all  got  into  a ‘ sam-pan,’  a small 
Chinese  boat,  worked  by  rowers,  and  were  soon  landed 
at  Dr.  Parker’s,  where  we  took  dinner.  Canton  is  the 
most  indescribable  place  I ever  saw.  I could  scarcely 
obtain  a correct  or  clear  idea  of  it  myself.  It  seems  to  be 
just  one  mass  of  buildings,  as  the  streets  are  mere  paved 
paths,  not  so  wide  as  the  sidewalks  in  Boston,  and  cov- 
ered most  of  the  way  by  verandahs  meeting  above  them. 
The  foreign  part  is  more  open,  and  contains  some  splen- 


388 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


did  buildings.  Adjoining  it  is  tbe  American  garden,  a 
fine  promenade,  and  the  only  one  the  foreign  residents 
have,  as  they  do  not  venture  into  the  streets  much.  I 
walked  a mile  through  the  city  with  Dr.  Ball  and  his 
daughter  to  his  house,  where  we  had  been  invited  to 
breakfast.  It  was  considered  quite  a feat,  as  females  had 
scarcely  begun  to  venture  into  the  streets  since  the  trou- 
bles in  April.  Our  appearance  created  some  sensation, 
though  we  were  not  disturbed.  We  left  Canton  in  a Chi- 
nese ‘ fast  boat,’  a crazy-looking,  but  sufficiently  comfort- 
able craft  for  Hong  Kong,  distant  seventy  miles.  We 
stopped  on  board  the  Heber  at  Whampoa,  and  took  in  our 
luggage,  bidding  good  bye  to  the  captain  and  crew,  and  the 
noble  ship  that  had  brought  us  so  safely  on  our  trackless 
journey. 

“ There  was  so  much  freight  among  us  six  passengers, 
that  we  had  to  charter  two  boats,  living  in  one  and  trust- 
ing most  of  our  things  to  the  honesty  of  the  Chinese  in 
the  other.  We  provided  for  ourselves,  the  natives  doing 
the  cooking.  Dr.  Parker  had  furnished  our  ‘ chow-chow,’ 
which  is  the  phrase  here  for  food  ; while  kind  Captain 
T.,  of  the  Heber,  contributed  a boiled  ham,  bread,  cheese, 
etc.  We  reached  Hong  Kong  in  thirty-six  hours,  and 
were  warmly  greeted  by  the  missionaries  of  the  Ameri- 
can Baptist  Board.  In  heathen  lands,  blessed  be  Grod, 
we  are  all  one  in  Christ.  Here  we  separated  from  our 
dear  friends,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doty,  and  Bev.  Mr.  Talmage, 
who  went  on  their  way  to  Amoy. 

“ Being  all  ready  to  start  for  Fuh  Chau,  where,  unless 
we  arrive  before  the  change  of  the  monsoon,  which  is 
near,  we  can  not  go  till  next  spring,  you  may  judge  of 


WHITE. 


389 


our  joy  at  the  arrival  on  Tuesday  of  the  T.  W.  Sears, 
•with  our  truant  chattels.  As  there  was  no  vessel  going 
direct  to  Full  Chau,  we  have  been  obliged  to  charter  a 
small  lorcha,  in  which  we  must  make  the  remainder  of 
the  voyage,  a distance  of  five  hundred  miles. 

“ Through  the  kindness  of  my  Boston  friends,  to  whom 
a lasting  debt  of  gratitude  is  due,  I was  made  very  com- 
fortable on  the  voyage.  May  the  Lord  reward  them  a 
hundred  fold.  We  expect  to  leave  to-morrow.  All  well 
and  happy.  Do  not  be  over  anxious  for  us.  We  have 
experienced  abundant  evidence  of  the  special  care  and 
protection  of  our  heavenly  Father.  I have  no  fears  for 
the  future,  though  I know  that  a difficult  and  toilsome, 
if  not  a dangerous  path  is  before  me.” 

They  embarked  at  Hong  Kong,  on  the  lorcha,  August 
21st,  and  reached  Fuh  Chau  September  7th,  1847.  Of 
the  five  consular  ports,  then  open  to  foreigners  in  China, 
this  is  the  middle  one  in  geographical  position,  and  per- 
haps the  second  in  population.  Situated  about  thirty 
miles  from  the  ocean,  on  the  river  Min,  whose  banks,  for 
beauty  and  grandeur,  have  been  compared  to  the  noble 
Hudson,  but  whose  waters  are  difficult  of  navigation, 
Fuh  Chau  had  been  unvisited  by  foreign  ships,  and  her 
people  uncontaminated  by  the  influence  of  foreign  sea- 
men and  soldiers.  Quietly  resting  in  its  own  vast  am- 
phitheater, made  by  the  towering  mountains  that  sur- 
round it,  the  whole  great  valley  presenting  a scene  of 
beauty  seldom  witnessed,  and  covered  by  the  great  city 
and  its  wide-spreading  suburbs,  with  their  population  of 
a million  of  souls,  it  presented  to  our  young  missionaries 
a vast,  open,  and  inviting  field. 


390 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


A small  island  in  the  river,  densely  populated,  consti- 
tutes a part  of  the  suburbs  of  the  great  city.  On  this 
island  Mr.  and  Mrs.  White  took  up  their  residence. 
Here,  amid  the  most  charming  scenery  in  the  world,  sur- 
rounded by  nearly  a million  of  perishing  heathen,  whose 
houses  could  all  be  seen  with  a glance,  Mrs.  White,  with 
a full  heart,  entered  upon  her  work.  As  she  went  into  the 
streets,  she  was  surrounded  by  women  and  children,  to 
whom  she  longed  to  tell  the  story  of  Calvary’s  bleeding 
sufferer,  but  her  tongue  was  tied.  This  urged  her  to 
vigorous  efforts  to  learn  their  language — efforts  too  la- 
borious for  long-continued  life. 

She  took  a slight  cold  soon  after  reaching  the  country, 
and  her  exhausting  labors  in  that  exhausting  climate, 
rendered  her  susceptible  to  disease,  and  the  damp,  chill- 
ing winds  of  winter  brought  on  a disease  of  the  lungs, 
which  hastened  her  to  the  tomb.  She  was  impressed 
that  her  mission  must  soon  end,  but  this  seemed  rather 
to  stimulate  than  dampen  her  zeal.  She  might  in  truth 
have  said,  “ The  zeal  of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up.” 
In  writing  to  her  brother  in  the  near  prospect  of  the  end, 
she  says,  “ I have  loved  my  dear  Saviour  before,  and 
think  I have  loved  him  with  all  my  heart ; but  never  did 
I know  of  that  exhaustless  ocean  of  his  love  as  since  this 
affliction  came  upon  me.  I am  not  sorry  I left  America. 
I love  the  cause  of  my  Master,  and  earnestly  desire  the 
salvation  of  these  perishing  millions  of  China.  I had 
rather  lay  my  body  here  in  China  than  in  America.” 

When  the  last  flickerings  of  the  lamp  of  life,  which 
for  days  had  been  faint,  were  about  to  be  extinguished 
for  ever,  the  blaze  brightened  and  she'  gathered  strength 


WOLF  E . — W Y L I E . 


391 


to  leave  her  parting  benediction  with  the  endeared  friends 
of  the  mission,  and  then  to  the  companion  of  her  toils 
she  said,  “ Mj  dear  husband,  live  for  one  thing,  and  one 
only ; only  one  thing , just  one  thing — the  glory  of  God! 
the  glory  of  God  /” 

Then  turning  to  the  little  missionary  band  she  re- 
quested them  to  tell  the  people,  as  her  dying  testimony, 
that  Jesus  can  make  his  people  happy  when  they  die. 
She  slept  in  Jesus  May  25,  1848,  aged  twenty-six  years. 


WOLFE. 

The  Rev.  Samuel  Wolfe,  a missionary  of  the  Lon- 
don Missionary  Society,  went  to  Singapore  in  1835,  and 
died  at  Zamboanga  in  1837.  He  was  said  to  have  pos- 
sessed great  tenacity  of  memory,  and  other  qualifications 
for  learning  the  Chinese  language  with  great  facility.  He 
made  his  last  voyage  from  Singapore  to  the  Philippine 
Islands  for  the  benefit  of  his  health,  but  died  alone  among 
the  heathen. 


WYLIE. 

Mrs.  Wylie,  the  wife  of  A.  Wylie,  died  at  Shanghae 
in  1850.  Mrs.  Wylie  had  labored  seven  years  among 
the  dark  colored  and  darker  minded  descendants  of  Ham, 
gathering  together  and  teaching  the  little  children,  fol- 
lowing the  example  of  the  Great  Teacher,  who,  while  on 
earth,  showed  the  tenderest  interest  in  such  little  ones. 


392 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


Her  mission  to  Africa  had  been  the  result  of  an  ardent 
desire  to  do  something  in  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom  among 
the  heathen.  In  infancy  she  was  left  an  orphan,  and  as 
she  grew  up  had  to  straggle  with  difficulties  common  to 
the  lot  of  the  feeble  and  fatherless.  This  experience  in 
early  life  may  have  done  much  to  develop  that  self-reli- 
ance and  decision  of  character  which  distinguished  her 
in  after  years.  She  also  id  youth  discovered  happy  evi- 
dences of  spiritual  life,  which,  fostered  by  Christian 
friends,  and  the  Holy  Spirit’s  power,  matured  in  a Chris- 
tian character  of  great  energy,  symmetry,  and  likeness 
to  its  Great  Example.  Her  one  great  purpose  of  life 
was  to  glorify  the  Saviour  and  promote  his  kingdom. 

While  in  Africa  her  sufferings  were  not  inconsiderable, 
her  work  was  abundant,  and  some  of  those  under  her 
care  gave  evidence  of  their  conversion  to  God. 

Having  been  compelled  by  the  war  of  1845  to  leave 
Caffreland  and  return  to  England,  when  opportunity 
offered  she  went  to  resume  her  work  of  benevolence  in 
China.  Mr.  Wylie  arrived  at  Shanghae,  August  26th, 
1847,  and  was  superintendent  of  the  press  connected  with 
the  London  Missionary  Society. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Mr.  Wylie 
after  her  arrival  in  China.  She  discovered  an  aptitude 
in  speaking  a foreign  language,  and  great  promise  of 
usefulness,  but  her  career  was  soon  cut  short,  and,  after 
commending  her  little  babe,  her  afflicted  husband,  and 
the  interests  of  the  mission,  to  her  heavenly  Father’s 
care,  she  was  taken  to  her  rest  above. 


WTIET. 


393 


WYLEY. 

Mrs.  Frances  J.  W yley  was  born  in  Northumber- 
land county,  Pennsylvania,  January  17,  1823.  Her 
father,  Joseph  Martin,  was  a native  of  Ireland,  and  came 
to  the  new  world  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  In  1808 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Hueston,  and  settled  in 
Northumberland,  one  of  the  northern  counties  of  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  lived  an  honest,  frugal  and  successful 
farmer,  and  where  he  died  in  1823,  leaving  his  youngest 
daughter,  Frances,  then  but  a few  months  old.  Her 
mother  possessed  a clear  mind,  the  Christian’s  faith, 
gentle  manners,  and  was  every  way  a fitting  mother  to 
train  her  seven  orphaned  children  for  usefulness  and 
heaven.  In  1848  this  good  mother  was  called  to  her 
rest  and  reward  above.  The  children  survive,  except 
the  one  that  sleeps  beneath  the  olive  trees  in  the  cem- 
etery of  Fuh  Chau. 

In  1841  Frances  became  a member  of  the  Methodist 
church  in  Pottsville,  Pennsylvania,  and  continued  a grow- 
ing and  zealous  Christian  to  the  end  of  life.  In  1842  she 
entered  the  family  of  her  sister,  in  the  valley  of  Tuscarora, 
where  she  engaged  in  teaching,  and  where  she  won  the 
esteem  and  confidence  of  a large  circle  of  friends. 

She  was  married  to  Dr.  Wyley  in  October,  1846,  who 
was  then  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  western 
Pennsylvania,  but  whose  thoughts  had  been  directed  to- 
wards the  work  of  the  ministry,  and  who  long  had  de- 
sired to  preach  the  gospel  in  China.  Just  at  this  time 
an  urgent  appeal  had  come  from  the  Missionary  Society 

17* 


394 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  for  a reinforcement 
of  their  mission  at  Fuh  Chau.  The  corresponding  sec- 
retary addressed  a letter  of  inquiry  to  Dr.  Wyley  re- 
garding his  personal  engagement  in  the  mission,  which 
he  laid  before  his  young  wife.  She  was  then  a mother 
— was  in  her  own  home,  surrounded  with  the  comforts 
of  life  and  a large  circle  of  endeared  friends ; yet  she 
calmly  received  the  letter  from  the  hand  of  her  hus- 
band, read  it  over,  pondered  its  momentous  import, 
prayed  over  it,  and  then  returned  it  with  the  saying, 
“ Where  thou  goest  I will  go,  and  thy  God  shall  be  my 
God.” 

After  their  appointment  for  China,  several  months 
were  spent  in  preparation  for  the  voyage ; and  on  the 
13th  of  March,  1851.  they  embarked  for  China,  in  com- 
pany with  Miss  Seely  and  Rev.  James  Colder  and  wife, 
and  on  the  9th  of  July,  of  the  same  year,  they  were  wel- 
comed by  their  predecessors  at  Euh  Chau,  the  city  of 
their  destination. 

They  at  once  commenced  housekeeping,  which  is  no 
easy  thing  to  do  in  a strange  country,  with  stranger  cus- 
toms and  a still  stranger  language.  Housewives  in  this 
land,  with  all  the  facilities  of  home  conveniences,  house- 
hold utensils,  trained  domestics  and  a common  language, 
sometimes  think  that  none  have  sorrows  equal  to  theirs. 
But  with  all  its  difficulties,  Mrs.  Wyley  was  ready  for 
the  duty.  She  justly  thought  that  to  free  her  husband 
from  domestic  care,  that  his  whole  strength  might  be 
given  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  was  the  true  mission- 
ary work  for  a missionary’s  wife. 

Mrs.  Wyley  had  suffered  from  several  severe  attacks 


WYLET. 


395 


of  disease  since  her  arrival  in  China,  and  in  September, 
1852,  her  husband  was  brought  to  the  door  of  death  by 
an  attack  of  dysentery.  For  six  weeks  bis  devoted  wife 
gave  her  angel  ministrations  to  his  wants  with  a self-for- 
getfulness and  ceaseless  care  which  severely  taxed  her 
then  feeble  health.  His  spiritual  welfare  was  also  made 
the  subject  of  her  prayerful  interest,  and  when  he  recov- 
ered her  mouth  was  filled  with  praise. 

In  the  spring  of  1853,  the  progressing  rebellion  had 
spread  alarm  over  the  country,  and  the  foreign  residents 
of  Fuh  Chau  began  to  question  the  safety  of  their  posi- 
tion. Some  of  the  mission  families  left.  Mrs.  Wyley, 
after  much  prayer,  resolved  to  remain  with  her  husband, 
and  abide  the  result. 

Their  dwelling  had  been  entered  by  bold  robbers  at 
night,  and  the  tropical  sun  came  with  scorching  power 
upon  them  by  day.  Soon  health  failed,  and  while  seek- 
ing restoration  by  a trip  on  the  waters  of  the  Min,  a ty- 
phoon overtook  them,  and  for  nine  days  they  were  closely 
confined  to  their  little  boat,  exposed  to  the  drenching 
rains,  while  the  winds  blew  over  them  with  the  strength 
of  a hurricane.  The  floods  of  rain  soon  swelled  the 
stream,  which  rushed  furiously  down  its  bed,  and  broke 
over  its  banks  with  one  wide-spread  and  angry  flood. 
Their  position  became  one  not  only  of  privation  but  of 
peril.  In  this  condition,  beyond  the  power  of  man  to 
save,  she  discovered  two  striking  traits  of  her  character — 
patience  and  fortitude. 

Both  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Wyley  suffered  seriously  from  this 
exposure,  and  felt  obliged  to  seek  relief  by  a visit  to  an- 
other port,  or  a return  to  their  native  land.  But  before 


396 


THE  CHINA  MISSION. 


they  could  leave,  Mrs.  Wyley  began  to  fail  rapidly,  and 
on  the  3d  of  November,  1853,  she  entered  into  rest. 

She  has  left  as  a legacy  to  her  husband,  her  children, 
and  the  mission,  the  bright  example  of  a Christian  life, 
and  the  blessed  triumphs  of  the  Christian’s  death. 


A 


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Bov.  Dr.  Alexander.  Eev.  Dr.  Hague.  Bev.  Dr.  Parker 


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SELECT  DISCOURSES. 

Translated  from  the  French  and  German. 

Embracing  some  Twenty-five  of  the  choicest  Discourses  of  Adolphe  Monod, 
Krummacher,  Tholuck,  and  Julius  Muller. 

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THE  LIFE  AND  MISSION  OF  WOMEN. 

By  Adolphe  Monod,  D.D. 

Translated  from  the  French.  In  one  handsome  volume,  12mo,  82  pages. 
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THE  LIVING  EPISTLE; 

Or,  The  Moral  Power  of  a Beligious  Life. 

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GLIMPSES  OF  JESUS , EXALTED  IN  THE 
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SEB3I0NS  TO  TIIE  C HUB  C EES. 

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CONTENTS. 


I.  The  Apostolic  Ministry. 

II.  The  Church,  a Society  for  the  Conver- 
sion of  the  World. 

III.  Christian  Worship. 

IV.  A Consistent  Piety,  the  Demand  of  the 

Age. 


V.  Slavery  to  Public  Opinion. 

YI.  The  Perils  of  Riches. 

VII.  Prevalent  Prayer. 

VIII.  Responsibility  for  the  Moral  Condi- 
tion of  Others. 


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MEMO  IB  OF  DAVID  TAP  PAH  ST  ODD ABD, 

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BY  JOSEPH  P.  THOMPSON,  D.D., 

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which  his  rare  excellence  as  a Christian  was  always  conspicuous. 


THE  “ PBECIO  US  STOKES  OF  THE  HEA  V- 
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SONGS  AND  BALLADS  FOR  THE  HOME 
AND  HOUSEHOLD. 

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“ A Most  Absorbing  Booh." 

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LDA  NORMAN; 

Or,  Trials  and  their  Uses, 

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PRINCIPLES  AND  PRACTICES  OF  BAPTISTS. 

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1 vol.,  12mo.  Cloth,  $1. 

“ We  do  not  remember  to  have  met  anywhere,  in  the  same  space,  with  so  much  prac- 
tical wisdom  on  sermon-making,  on  the  delivery  of  sermons,  and  on  the  manner  of  tho 
pulpit,  as  is  condensed  into  the  last  fifty  pages  of  this  book.’’ — North  American  Review. 

“We  regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  interesting  features  in  modern  Baptist  history,  that 
one  to  whom  the  whole  body  defers  with  so  much  and  so  deserved  respect,  has  consecrated 
the  evening  of  a long  and  well-spent  life,  and  tho  maturity  of  a cultivated  and  profound 
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THE  BAPTIST  LIBRARY. 

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Consisting  of  over  1300  pages,  and  embracing  a large  number  of  Standard 
Works  in  Theology. 

BENEDICTS  HISTORY  OF  THE  BAPTISTS. 

A General  History  of  the  Baptist  Denomination  in  America,  and  other  parts" 
of  the  World. 

By  David  Benedict. 

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THE  BAPTIST  DENOMINATION: 

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Practice  ; its  Polity ; its  Persecutions  and  Martyrs ; Facts  and  Statistics  of 
its  Missionary  Institutions  ; Schools  of  Learning ; Periodicals  and  Churches ; 
the  obligation  of  the  World  to  Baptists,  and  the  duty  of  Baptists  to  the 
World ; designed  to  exhibit  its  Condition  in  all  Ages  of  Christianity. 

By  Rev.  D.  C.  Haynes,  of  Philadelphia. 

With  an  Introduction  by  Rev.  John  Dowling,  D.  D. 

1 vol.,  12mo.  Muslin.  Price  $1. 

GRACE  TRUMAN; 

Or,  Love  and  Principle. 

By  Sallie  Rochester  Ford.  With  Steel  Portrait  of  the  Authoress. 

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in  maintaining  her  principles  against  the  intolerance  of  the  open  communion  friends  of 
her  husband  ; and  tbis  is  done  so  as  to  preserve  unfailing  freshness  in  the  narrative,  and 
to  throw  a flood  of  light  on  the  principles  and  practices  of  the  Baptist  denomination.  We 
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THE  LIFE  OF  THOMAS  COLE , XT.  A. 

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MEMOIR  OF  THE  REV.  THOMAS  SPENCER. 

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THE  MEMOIR  OF  MRS.  HELEN  M.  MASON, 

Seventeen  Tears  a Missionary  in  Burmah. 

By  her  Husband,  Rev.  Francis  Mason. 

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THE  JUDSON  OFFERING. 

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LIFE  OF  SPENCER  H.  CONE,  D.D. 

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Period  of  over  Half  a Century. 

Together  with  his  Polemic  and  Miscellaneous  “Writings,  complete ; to  which 
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“ Many  shall  run  to  and  fro,  and  knowledge  shall  be  increased.” — David. 

With  an  Introductory  Essay,  by  the  Rev.  John  Dowling,  D.  D.,  of  New  York, 
Author  of  “ History  of  Romanism,”  etc. 

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THE  ALMOST  CHR  IS  TLA  N. 

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“FATHER  CLARK;" 

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THE  MIRROR. 

Or,  A Delineation  of  Different  Classes  of  Christians. 

In  a Series  of  Lectures. 

By  the  Rev.  J.  B.  Jeter,  D.  D.,  of  Richmond,  Va.,  with  an  Introduction  by 
Rev.  A.  M.  Poindexter. 

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STRUGGLES  AND  TRIUMPHS  OF 
RELIGIOUS  LIBERTY. 

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from  the  English  Reformation  to  the  Settlement  of  New  England. 

By  Edward  B.  Underhill,  Esq. 

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CAMPBELLISM  EXAMINED  AND 
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has  drawn.” — Baptist,  Register, 


I 


